Boeing 747-400 incident near Los Angeles, California, June 29, 2007
On June 29, 2007 at about 8:55 am local time, a Boeing 747-400, registered B2470, suffered minor damage in an incident near Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles Intl airport). It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). No one was hurt; 237 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of pressure in the number 12 tire due to inadvertent contact with foreign object debris while taxiing prior to takeoff, which resulted the number 11 tire to over deflect and burst during takeoff roll. Contributing to the incident was the failure of the flight crew to detect and act upon the EICAS message alerting them to the loss of pressure in the number 12 tire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2007 · about 8:55 am local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · Los Angeles Intl · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 237 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 747-400 · all 747-400s on the register
- Registration
- B2470 · no longer on the register · serial 29070
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxing for departure, the airplane's No. 12 tire on the right body landing gear contacted foreign object debris (FOD), which resulted in a cut tire and loss of pressure. An electronic message reflecting the loss of pressure in the No. 12 tire was displayed on the engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS) in the cockpit; however, no further action was taken by the flight crew. During the takeoff roll, the two aft tires, No. 11 (inboard) and 12 (outboard), on the right body landing gear (RBLG) burst and their associated wheels fractured, which caused minor damage to the airplane. The airplane returned back to the airport and landed uneventfully. Examination of the airplane's systems and wheel assemblies revealed no additional anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,085 hours in all; 392 in this make and model; 232 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 13,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,507 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 246 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 853,000 lb
- Seats: 303
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PW4056-3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air China
The flight
- Departed from: LAX Los Angeles CA at 8:50 am
- Destination: ZBAA Beijing
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25R, 12,091 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 am from KLAX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 14 | |||
| Passengers | 223 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.