Cerritos in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial
Photographed By Craig Baker, March 14, 2024
1. Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial
On August 31, 1986 at 11:56 A.M., two planes collided above a Cerritos neighborhood in the vicinity of Carmenita Road and 183rd Street. The tragic accident claimed 82 lives, destroyed 11 homes and severely damaged seven others. The collision was partially caused by inadequate airport approach and departure controls.
This tragedy became known as the Cerritos Air Disaster and resulted in implementation of safer procedures for airport approaches and departures.
The people of Cerritos offer this memorial in memory of those who perished in the Cerritos Air Disaster. May this memorial offer comfort and serenity to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.
In memory of those who perished in the DC-9 Aero Mexico flight 498 and the Piper Cherokee Archer II, Cerritos Air Disaster, August 31, 1986:
Andrea Avila - Andres Avila - Rosa Ojeda de Avila - Laura Ballesteros - Carmen Barrero - Thomas Basye - Byron Booker - Aurea Caro - Frank Corella - Mark Corella - Howard Crosno - Robert Crosno - Juan Echeverri - Clemente Espinosa - Iris Ferrufino - Linda Garcia - Paul Garcia - Dinorah Gonzalez - Hector Gutierrez - Joe Guzman - Manuel Guzman - Robert Guzman - Sherryl Harveling - Sharon Hendricks - Wendy Hendricks - Rosalia Hernandez - Gregorio Huerta - Robert Kaptowsky - Elizabeth Knight - Patricia Knight - Rutulia Knight - Caroline Kramer - Kathleen Kramer - William Kramer - Elva Leanos - Raul Leanos
this page online
In loving memory of our Cerritos famillies and friends who perished in the Cerritos Air Disaster, August 31, 1986:
Cuauhtemoc Cronkhite - Tonantzin Cronkhite - Xochi Cronkhite - Anjelica Estrada - Frank Estrada - Freeman Jackson - Juanita Logan - Linda McIllwain - Kelsey Richard - Laura Richard - Jennifer Starr - Howard Yackytooahnipah - Sharon Yackytooahnipah
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters. A significant historical year for this entry is 1986.
Location. 33° 51.991′ N, 118° 3.992′ W. Marker is in Cerritos, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker can be reached from 183rd Street west of Bloomfield Avenue. Marker is located in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden west of Cerritos City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18135 Bloomfield Ave, Cerritos CA 90703, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Paul Revere (approx. 0.3 miles away); “Big Red Cars”
Photographed By Craig Baker, March 14, 2024
2. Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial
Regarding Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial. The single-engine Piper aircraft flew into controlled airspace without contacting air traffic control, while the controller was distracted by another unauthorized flight entering controlled airspace near the airport. Blame was assessed equally on the FAA and the pilot of the Piper. No fault was found with the crew of the Aeromexico DC-9.
As a result of this accident, the FAA required that all jets in U.S. airspace be equipped with a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and required that light aircraft operating in dense airspaces be equipped with Mode C transponders which can report their altitude.
There has not been another mid-air collision in the United States.
Photographed By Craig Baker, March 14, 2024
3. Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2013, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 5,593 times since then and 386 times this year. Last updated on April 20, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 22, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
