- Date
- September 30, 2017, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place
- Arlington, VA
- Injuries
- 301 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi-from runway: Ground collisionStanding-engine(s) operating: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Case key
- 96122
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure N841NNs captain to maintain appropriate clearance from N982VJ, which was stopped on the taxiway.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
N841NN · Boeing 737 823
N982VJ · Airbus A321 231
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
N841NN · Boeing 737 823
N982VJ · Airbus A321 231
Analysis
On September 30, 2017, about 1050 eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 1533, a Boeing 737-800, N841NN, collided with American Airlines flight 419, an Airbus A321, N982VJ, on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), Arlington, Virginia. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane. Both flights were scheduled domestic passenger flights, operating under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121. N841NN originated at Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida, and had 108 passengers and crew onboard. N982VJ originated at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, (KDFW) Dallas, Texas, and had 191 passengers and crew on board. According to flight crew statements N982VJ was stopped on taxiway K waiting for their assigned arrival gate to be vacated. As N841NN attempted to pass N982VJ, the left wingtip of N841NN impacted the left horizontal stabilizer of N982VJ, causing substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer.
Factual narrative
On September 30, 2017, about 1050 eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 1533, a Boeing 737-800, N841NN, collided with American Airlines flight 419, an Airbus A321, N982VJ, on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), Arlington, Virginia. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane. Both flights were scheduled domestic passenger flights, operating under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121. N841NN originated at Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida, and had 108 passengers and crew onboard. N982VJ originated at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, (KDFW) Dallas, Texas, and had 191 passengers and crew on board. According to flight crew statements N982VJ was stopped on taxiway K waiting for their assigned arrival gate to be vacated. As N841NN attempted to pass N982VJ, the left wingtip of N841NN impacted the left horizontal stabilizer of N982VJ, causing substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N841NN
- Reported as
- Boeing 737 823 (823)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30914
- Built
- 2010
- Engines
- CFM Intl CFM56-7B24, 10,142 horsepower, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-7B24, 10,142 horsepower, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- American Airlines
- Registered owner
- Wilmington Trust Co Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- MIA · Miami, FL
- Destination
- DCA · Arlington VA, VA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- DCA · Reagan National
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N982VJ
- Reported as
- Airbus A321 231 (231)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5374
- Built
- 2012
- Engines
- IAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fanIAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- American Airlines
- Registered owner
- American Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- DFW · Dallas Fort Wor, TX
- Destination
- DCA · Arlington VA, VA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- DCA · Reagan National
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 4
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N841NN
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 23, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 15,993 total · 8,842 in this make and model · 8,799 as pilot in command
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N841NN
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 12, 2017
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 710 total · 710 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N982VJ
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 28, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 15,043 total · 2,698 in this make and model · 5,889 as pilot in command
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N982VJ
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 20, 2017
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 1,300 total · 1,300 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.9 MB in all.