# NTSB DCA17CA214: Boeing 737 823, N841NN, Arlington, VA, September 30, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 30, 2017, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, VA
- Coordinates: 38.900001, -77.033332
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9000&lon=-77.0333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 301 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96122
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA17CA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96122/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96122
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17CA214

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

The failure N841NNs captain to maintain appropriate clearance from N982VJ, which was stopped on the taxiway.

## 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), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Boeing 737-823, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=13844CB), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Airbus A321-231, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=3940032), [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.

- [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Boeing 737-823, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=13844CB), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Airbus A321-231, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=3940032), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

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 (aircraft 2)

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 1

- Registration: [N841NN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N841NN), registered now, S/N 30914, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737 823 (823)
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-823](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-823) (registry code 13844CB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B24 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b24-series) (registry code 13044, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30914
- Year built: 2010
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 10142 horsepower turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 10142 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

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N982VJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N982VJ), registered now, S/N 5374, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A321 231 (231)
- Registry model: [Airbus A321-231](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a321-231) (registry code 3940032) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [IAE V2533-A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2533-a5) (registry code 34611, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5374
- Year built: 2012
- Engines: IAE V2533-A5 11990 horsepower turbo fan; IAE V2533-A5 11990 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N841NN; age 60; injuries: none; 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
- Co-pilot, aircraft N841NN; age 57; injuries: none; 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
- Pilot, aircraft N982VJ; age 60; injuries: none; 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
- Co-pilot, aircraft N982VJ; age 43; injuries: none; 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 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96122. 1.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465825&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.

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