# NTSB ATL01IA064: Boeing 757, N750AT, Atlanta, GA, June 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2001, 08:05 local (12:05 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.640571, -84.460174 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6406&lon=-84.4602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 89 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52437 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01IA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52437/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01IA064 ## Probable cause The pilots improper landing flare that resulted in the tail section collision with the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, flightcrew (cause) - fuselage,pressure bulkhead - buckled (cause) - airspeed(vref) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis A Boeing 757, experienced a tail strike while landing at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. On the landing flare, the tail of the airplane impacted the runway. No mechanical problems with the airplane were discovered during the airframe examination. Both pilots were given additional flight training and returned to normal duty. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2001, at approximately 0805 eastern daylight time, Delta flight 274, a Boeing 757, N750AT, experienced a tail strike while landing at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Flight 274 was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 while on an instrument flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight, and there were no injuries. The flight departed at 1210 and operated as a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru. According to the flight crew, there were two pilots, five flight attendants, and 82 revenue passengers on board flight 274. This leg of the flight was flown by the First Officer. The First Officer said, "When I made my walk around in Lima, I noticed a large number of crates that were prepared for loading onto the aircraft. This seemed unusual, especially in view of the fact we carried virtually no cargo on the trip from Atlanta. Since we were flying a B-757, rather than a B-767, which is more normally flown in our category, the Captain and I discussed the different flying characteristics of the B-757 and the need to take the B-757's tendency to pitch down somewhat abruptly following touchdown into account upon landing." Upon arriving in Atlanta, the Captain recalled that the final approach and flare appeared normal. The Captain also noted, "At some point during the flare, the tail of the aircraft apparently contacted the runway, although it was not evident to us in the cockpit." While on the landing flare on runway 27R into Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, the tail of the airplane collided with the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed belly skin damage on the tail section aft of the drain mast. The aft pressure bulkhead showed buckles between S-29 left and S-29 right stringers. Buckles were also noted in the lower web of the aft pressure bulkhead. Data recovered from the Flight Data Recorder revealed the airplane touchdown at 0805:35 at 110.25 knots and a pitch attitude of 10.37 degrees. Touchdown is based on the air/ground switch state change. The vertical acceleration spike (1.265 g's) at 0805:36.64 indicates the time of the tail strike. The max pitch angle (11.25 degrees) was recorded at 0805:37.05. The VREF airspeed for the airplane is 128 knots. Both pilots were given additional flight training and returned to normal duty. . ## Aircraft - Registration: [N750AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N750AT-2017-05-09), registration cancelled 2017-05-09, S/N 23126, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 757 - Registry model: [Boeing 757-212](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-212) (registry code 1384951) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22223 - Airframe hours: 45646.7 - Engines: P&W pw2037 38200 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 28, 2001 - Departed: LIM, Lima - Destination: ATL, Atlanta, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ATL, The William B Hartsfield Atlan, runway 27R, 11,889 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review January 22, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 7,238 total, 1,681 in this make and model, 216 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 44; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review October 25, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 4,371 total, 335 in this make and model, 128 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: ATL ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20010605022959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010605022959I), Jun 5, 2001: Boeing 757212, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On the landing flare, the tail of the airplane collided with the ground. This was originally classified by the NTSB as an accident then downgraded to in… ## Other investigations on N750AT (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 OPS07IA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OPS07IA002), Jan 10, 2007: Boeing 757-212 (N750AT), Atlanta, GA, incident, no damage. Probable cause: This incident was caused by the local controller's issuance of an improper takeoff clearance to DAL1606. Contributing was the failure of the oncoming and outgoing local controllers to provide and… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.