DCA18CA043

NTSB accident investigation · Airbus A319 115 · Miami, FL · December 3, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
December 3, 2017, 18:25 local (23:25 UTC)
Place
Miami, FL
Injuries
294 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N9011PAirbus A319 115N344PPBoeing 737 800
Defining events
Taxi-from runway: Ground collisionStanding-engine(s) operating: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night
Status
Completed · report September 5, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Case key
96472

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 of the flight crew of N9011P to maintain an appropriate clearance from N344PP, 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.

N9011P · Airbus A319 115

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crewAirbus A319-115: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

N344PP · Boeing 737 800

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraftBoeing 737-800: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

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.

N9011P · Airbus A319 115

N344PP · Boeing 737 800

Ground collisionStanding-engine(s) operatingBoeing 737-800: 1 caseAll aircraft: 618 casesDefining event

Analysis

On December 3, 2017, about 1825 eastern standard time, American Airlines flight 1531, an Airbus 319, N9011P, collided with American Airlines flight 1613, a Boeing 737-800, N344PP, on a taxiway at Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane and N344PP was substantially damaged. Both flights were scheduled passenger flights operating under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121. N9011P originated from Toncontín International Airport (MHTG), Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and had 126 passengers and crew onboard. N344PP originated from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (TJSJ), San Juan, Puerto Rico, and had 168 passengers and crew onboard. According to flight crew statements, N344PP had landed on runway 09 and was instructed to turn onto taxiway N5 from taxiway M. The captain set the parking brake as they waited for preceding traffic to clear. N9011P was following N344PP along taxiway M and observed N344PP stop on the taxiway N5 with its tail partially blocking taxiway M. After several minutes of waiting, N9011P requested permission to taxi past N344PP, which was granted. As the Captain of N9011P slowly taxied, the first officer (FO) attempted to visually monitor clearance between their airplanes wingtip and N344PPs horizontal stabilizer. The FO stated that he was temporarily blinded by the glare from the ramp lights and the airplanes collided. N9011P received minor damage to its right wingtip and the lower spar of N344PP's horizontal stabilizer was fractured.

Factual narrative

On December 3, 2017, about 1825 eastern standard time, American Airlines flight 1531, an Airbus 319, N9011P, collided with American Airlines flight 1613, a Boeing 737-800, N344PP, on a taxiway at Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane and N344PP was substantially damaged. Both flights were scheduled passenger flights operating under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121. N9011P originated from Toncontín International Airport (MHTG), Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and had 126 passengers and crew onboard. N344PP originated from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (TJSJ), San Juan, Puerto Rico, and had 168 passengers and crew onboard. According to flight crew statements, N344PP had landed on runway 09 and was instructed to turn onto taxiway N5 from taxiway M. The captain set the parking brake as they waited for preceding traffic to clear. N9011P was following N344PP along taxiway M and observed N344PP stop on the taxiway N5 with its tail partially blocking taxiway M. After several minutes of waiting, N9011P requested permission to taxi past N344PP, which was granted. As the Captain of N9011P slowly taxied, the first officer (FO) attempted to visually monitor clearance between their airplanes wingtip and N344PPs horizontal stabilizer. The FO stated that he was temporarily blinded by the glare from the ramp lights and the airplanes collided. N9011P received minor damage to its right wingtip and the lower spar of N344PP's horizontal stabilizer was fractured.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N9011P
Reported as
Airbus A319 115 (112)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
5798
Built
2013
Engines
CFM Intl CFM56-5B6, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-5B6, turbo fan
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
American Airlines
Registered owner
Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
TGU · Tegusigalpa
Destination
MIA · Miami, FL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
MIA · Miami International

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
N344PP
Reported as
Boeing 737 800 (800)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
31272
Built
2017
Engines
CFM Intl CFM56-7B24E, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-7B24E, turbo fan
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
American Airlines
Registered owner
Wilmington Trust Co Trustee
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
SJU · San Juan, PR
Destination
MIA · Miami, FL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
MIA · Miami International

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 N9011P
Age
61
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 17, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
20,806 total · 3,470 in this make and model · 3,470 as pilot in command
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N9011P
Age
53
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 6, 2017
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
5,823 total · 1,556 in this make and model
Role
Pilot, aircraft N344PP
Age
56
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 21, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
15,348 total · 5,496 in this make and model · 5,630 as pilot in command
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N344PP
Age
47
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
112 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night
Wind
50° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.06 inHg
Observed at
MIA

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.