# NTSB DCA22LA044: Airbus A320-251N, N307FR, Paradise, NV, December 13, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 13, 2021, 00:33 local (08:33 UTC)
- Place: Paradise, NV · LAS airport
- Coordinates: 36.079812, -115.15344
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0798&lon=-115.1534&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 123 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: Frontier, BEA, FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104393
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104393/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104393
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA044

## Probable cause

The captain’s failure to maintain proper pitch attitude during landing, likely caused by improper seat position.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Airbus A320-251N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=3940325), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A320-251N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=3940325), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane experienced a tailstrike during landing at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada. The captain hand flew the approach with auto thrust off. He stated that the landing picture looked normal and started the flare about 1000 feet down the runway. However, during the flare, the pitch, pitch alert activated, and the airplane bounced. After the event, the captain checked his seat position and found that it was 2 inches higher than normal, which may have altered his sight picture. Post-flight inspection revealed abrasion damage to the lower fuselage skin, deformation to the aft pressure bulkhead, damage to multiple frame fasteners, and multiple pulled fasteners.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N307FR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N307FR), registered now, S/N 7472, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A320-251N
- Registry model: [Airbus A320-251N](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-251n) (registry code 3940325) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International LEAP-1A26](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-leap-1a26) (registry code 13110, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7472
- Year built: 2017
- Airframe hours: 16088
- Engines: CFM INTL LEAP-1A26 27120 lbs thrust turbo jet; CFM INTL LEAP-1A26 27120 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Frontier Airlines
- Registered owner: AerCap Ireland Limited
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 11, 2021
- Departed: KMEM, Memphis, TN
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KLAS, Harry Reid International, runway 26L, 10,526 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 20, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,537 total, 1,892 in this make and model, 1,525 as pilot in command
- Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 7,276 total, 976 in this make and model, 3,835 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KLAS

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104393. 1.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13367187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SHQ-F3-MIN-21122302530-Rel.pdf
- Captain's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13368524&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Submission_70576_Flight%20Crew%20Incident_Tail%20Strike%20N307FR-Rel.pdf
- First officer's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13369393&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Submission_70653_Flight%20Crew%20Incident_Hard%20landing%20tailstrike-Rel.pdf
- Flight attendant statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13369507&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Submission_70616_Inflight%20Incident_Tail%20Strike-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.

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