# Accident 20200519021539A: Boeing 737-8Q8, Victorville, CA, May 19, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 19, 2020, 15:00 local time
- Place: Victorville, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: I5EA
- Location: 34.5709° N, 117.3291° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5709&lon=-117.3291&mi=10
- Aircraft: N820TJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N820TJ-2024-07-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-8Q8 (registry code 13844BX, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8q8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International CFM56-7B26 series (registry code 13045, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b26-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-8Q8
- Reported engine: CFM INTL CFM56-7B26
- People aboard: 95
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA20LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20LA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200519021539A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DCA20LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20LA107), May 19, 2020: Boeing 737 (N820TJ), Victorville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Improper installation of dorsal fin attach bolts which caused the dorsal fin to separate during flight, substantially damaging the left horizontal stabilizer.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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