What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 19, 2020, privacy data omitted flight 3518, a Boeing B737-800, N820TJ, was climbing through about 8,000 feet when the flight crew heard a loud bang but the systems and engine indications remained normal. The flight crew elected to continue to san diego international airport (san), san diego,
California.
Post-flight examination of the airplane found that the vertical stabilizer dorsal fin and several other panels were missing. The left horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged from impact with the missing components.
The flight was operated as a 14 code of federal regulations part 121 scheduled passenger flight from Victorville airport (vcv), Victorville, California, to san diego, CA.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 19, 2020, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FLIGHT 3518, A BOEING B737-800, N820TJ, WAS CLIMBING THROUGH ABOUT 8,000 FEET WHEN THE FLIGHT CREW HEARD A LOUD BANG BUT THE SYSTEMS AND ENGINE INDICATIONS REMAINED NORMAL. THE FLIGHT CREW ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SAN), SAN DIEGO,
CALIFORNIA.
POST-FLIGHT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FOUND THAT THE VERTICAL STABILIZER DORSAL FIN AND SEVERAL OTHER PANELS WERE MISSING. THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FROM IMPACT WITH THE MISSING COMPONENTS.
THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED AS A 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 121 SCHEDULED PASSENGER FLIGHT FROM VICTORVILLE AIRPORT (VCV), VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA, TO SAN DIEGO, CA.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.