# NTSB DCA18CA043: Airbus A319 115, N9011P, Miami, FL, December 3, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 3, 2017, 18:25 local (23:25 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.793333, -80.290557
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7933&lon=-80.2906&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: 294 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96472
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18CA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96472/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96472
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA043

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

The failure of the flight crew of N9011P to maintain an appropriate clearance from N344PP, 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 · Flight crew (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Airbus A319-115, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=3940034), [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: [Boeing 737-800, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1384414), [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: [Airbus A319-115, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=3940034), [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: [Boeing 737-800, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1384414), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

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 (aircraft 2)

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 1

- Registration: [N9011P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9011P), registered now, S/N 5798, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A319 115 (112)
- Registry model: [Airbus A319-115](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a319-115) (registry code 3940034) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-5B6 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-5b6-series) (registry code 13017, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5798
- Year built: 2013
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-5B6 turbo fan; CFM 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

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N344PP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N344PP), registered now, S/N 31272, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737 800 (800)
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-800](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-800) (registry code 1384414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B24E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b24e-series) (registry code 13804, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31272
- Year built: 2017
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B24E turbo fan; CFM 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N9011P; age 61; injuries: none; 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
- Co-pilot, aircraft N9011P; age 53; injuries: none; 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
- Pilot, aircraft N344PP; age 56; injuries: none; 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
- Co-pilot, aircraft N344PP; age 47; injuries: none; 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 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96472. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Reports, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465914&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Reports,%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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