What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 03/02/2005 at 1551E Continental airlines flight 99 at take-off reported striking the tail on runway 4L during rotation. The aircraft air returned into ewr after dumping fuel and landed on runway 29. The ARFF team responded and the aircraft taxied to the gate without incident. Upon observation from the ground, the tail skin area of the fuselage showed signs of minor damage. Upon further investigation, extensive damage was noted. The incident was classified as an accident. Boeing replaced the aft pressure bulkhead per Boeing repair order no. 6-1171-RE-01361.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 03/02/2005 AT 1551E CONTINENTAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 99 AT TAKE-OFF REPORTED STRIKING THE TAIL ON RUNWAY 4L DURING ROTATION. THE AIRCRAFT AIR RETURNED INTO EWR AFTER DUMPING FUEL AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 29. THE ARFF TEAM RESPONDED AND THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED TO THE GATE WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON OBSERVATION FROM THE GROUND, THE TAIL SKIN AREA OF THE FUSELAGE SHOWED SIGNS OF MINOR DAMAGE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS NOTED. THE INCIDENT WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN ACCIDENT. BOEING REPLACED THE AFT PRESSURE BULKHEAD PER BOEING REPAIR ORDER NO. 6-1171-RE-01361.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.