# NTSB DCA20CA095: Boeing 757, N193AN, Las Vegas, NV, March 21, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 21, 2020, 07:38 UTC - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.080001, -115.152221 - 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: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 127 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 101097 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA20CA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101097/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101097 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20CA095 ## Probable cause the excessive pitch attitude at touchdown. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 757-223, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1384957), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 757-223, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=1384957), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis On March 21, 2020, at 12:38 am Pacific daylight time (PDT), American Airlines flight 2341, a Boeing 757, N193AN, experienced a tailstrike during landing on runway 26L at the McCarran International Airport (KLAS), Las Vegas, Nevada. There were no injuries to the 127 passengers and crew, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121from Miami International Airport (KMIA), Florida, to KLAS. Due to staffing issues related to COVID-19, Las Vegas tower and TRACON were at ATC-zero, and the arrival was handled by Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZLA). The captain was the flying pilot and the first officer was monitoring. According to the flight crew, the flight was cleared for a visual approach and they monitored the ILS 26L as a backup. The flight crew reported that the winds were from 040 degrees at 8 knots (slight tailwind), visibility greater than ten miles, and a thin layer of broken clouds at 17,000 feet. The captain conducted an approach briefing and the first officer conducted a Landing Distance Assessment to account for the slight tailwind. The first officer reported the approach was normal and stabilized, and they encountered a slight downdraft in the flare. The captain disconnected the autopilot at about 400 feet above the ground and the autothrottle at 200 feet. Flight data recorder data indicated that the pitch attitude was about 7 degrees at touchdown but, as the ground spoilers deployed, pitch attitude increased to 10.9 degrees. There was a 3 to 5 knot crosswind at touchdown. Post-flight inspection of the airplane indicated the underside of the rear fuselage struck the runway, resulting in damage to the skin, frames, and aft pressure bulkhead. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N193AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N193AN), registered now, S/N 32387, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 757 (223) - Registry model: [Boeing 757-223](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-223) (registry code 1384957) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce RB-211 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-rb-211-series) (registry code 54555, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32387 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 64323 - Engines: Rolls-Royc RB.211 SERIES; Rolls-Royc RB.211 SERIES - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: American Airlines - Registered owner: American Airlines, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 18, 2020 - Departed: KMIA, Miami, FL - Destination: KLAS, Las Vegas, NV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KLAS, McCarran International Airport, runway 26L, 14,515 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 22, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 15,184 total, 29 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 54; injuries: none; flight engineer, private, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 10, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,548 total, 471 in this make and model, 135 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KLAS ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101097. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9401001&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=rAA%202341%20-%20NTSB%206120-Rel.pdf - Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9402683&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%202%20-%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Revised damage assessment (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 272 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9493490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Revised%20Damage%20Assessment-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.