the flight originated in syracuse , n.y. , made stops in washington , d.c. , and columbus , ohio , and was scheduled to arrive in los angeles at 6 : 11 p.m. it was to continue to san francisco international airport at 7 p.m. , arriving at 8 : 15 p.m. ; the crash occurred after dark , as the usair jet was landing on runway 24 left , the closest of two runways on the north side of the sprawling los angeles airport .