# NTSB DCA14CA034: Boeing 737, N8327A, Las Vegas, NV, January 4, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 3, 2014, 17:20 local (Jan 4, 2014, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.080001, -115.152221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0800&lon=-115.1522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 180 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 9, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 88654 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA14CA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88654/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88654 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA14CA034 ## Probable cause the captain's over rotation during the bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis On January 3, 2014, at approximately 1930 pacific standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 2516, a Boeing 737-800, N8327A, experienced a tail strike during landing at McCarran International Airport (KLAS), Las Vegas, Nevada. There were no injuries to the 180 passengers and crew onboard and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operating as a regularly scheduled passenger flight and originated from Orlando International Airport (KMCO), Orlando, Florida. According to the operator, the captain was the pilot flying and the first officer (FO) was the pilot monitoring. The accident flight was the first and only scheduled flight for the day for both crew members. Both pilots indicated that takeoff through the initial descent was uneventful. The aircraft was configured for a flaps 30 landing. During the ILS approach to runway 25L, the captain used the Heads-up Guidance System (HGS) in the IMC mode. During the decent below 100 feet, the FO indicated that the runway environment was dark and sensed the runway was "coming close fast". He noted a slightly increased descent rate and before he could make a callout, the captain had begun to take corrective action. During the descent, the captain stated he was hand flying the airplane (autopilot and autothrottles were off) and used the localizer, glideslope and flare cues from the HGS. At approximately 30 feet, he transitioned from the HGS to the runway environment, noting it appeared "pitch black." He then noticed the runway edge lights and what appeared to be an increased sink rate. Both pilots indicated the airplane touched down firm, then bounced, and the second touch down was harder than the first. Neither were aware that they had struck the tail. The captain did not recall seeing a tail strike warning indication from the HGS. Post flight inspection revealed that the tail strike indicator was compressed and deep scrapes and wear damage to the lower aft fuselage skin. Further investigation revealed multiple fractured frames and buckled stringers, shear ties and straps. ## Factual narrative On January 3, 2014, at approximately 1930 pacific standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 2516, a Boeing 737-800, N8327A, experienced a tail strike during landing at McCarran International Airport (KLAS), Las Vegas, Nevada. There were no injuries to the 180 passengers and crew onboard and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operating as a regularly scheduled passenger flight and originated from Orlando International Airport (KMCO), Orlando, Florida. According to the operator, the captain was the pilot flying and the first officer (FO) was the pilot monitoring. The accident flight was the first and only scheduled flight for the day for both crew members. Both pilots indicated that takeoff through the initial descent was uneventful. The aircraft was configured for a flaps 30 landing. During the ILS approach to runway 25L, the captain used the Heads-up Guidance System (HGS) in the IMC mode. During the decent below 100 feet, the FO indicated that the runway environment was dark and sensed the runway was "coming close fast". He noted a slightly increased descent rate and before he could make a callout, the captain had begun to take corrective action. During the descent, the captain stated he was hand flying the airplane (autopilot and autothrottles were off) and used the localizer, glideslope and flare cues from the HGS. At approximately 30 feet, he transitioned from the HGS to the runway environment, noting it appeared "pitch black." He then noticed the runway edge lights and what appeared to be an increased sink rate. Both pilots indicated the airplane touched down firm, then bounced, and the second touch down was harder than the first. Neither were aware that they had struck the tail. The captain did not recall seeing a tail strike warning indication from the HGS. Post flight inspection revealed that the tail strike indicator was compressed and deep scrapes and wear damage to the lower aft fuselage skin. Further investigation revealed multiple fractured frames and buckled stringers, shear ties and straps. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8327A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8327A), registered now, S/N 37009, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 737 (8H4) - Registry model: [Boeing 737-8H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8h4) (registry code 138440A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B27E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b27e-series) (registry code 13078, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38818 - Engines: CFM CFM56-7 turbo fan; CFM CFM56-7 turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Southwest Airlines Co - Registered owner: Southwest Airlines Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: MCO, ORLANDO, FL - Destination: LAS, Las Vegas, NV - Airport: LAS, Mc Carran Intl, runway 25L, 10,525 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Heads up display, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14,111 total, 9,200 in this make and model, 2,197 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,000 total, 3,200 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KLAS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20140103002969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140103002969A), Jan 3, 2014: Boeing 737-8H4, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Swaa flight 2516 (N8327A) was cleared for a visual approach and landing to klas runway 25L in Las Vegas, NV. Upon touchdown pilot reported a firm/bounced… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88654. 347 KB in all. - Operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6160884&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20283%20STL-DEN%20NTSB%20Form%202160-Rel.pdf 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.