# NTSB DCA25LA085: Boeing 767, N324UP, San Bernardino, CA, January 10, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 9, 2025, 18:55 local (Jan 10, 2025, 02:55 UTC) - Place: San Bernardino, CA · SBD - Coordinates: 34, -117 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0000&lon=-117.0000&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA, UPS, Boeing - NTSB case key (mKey): 199538 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199538/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199538 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA085 ## Probable cause Encounter with windshear during landing which resulted in a tailstrike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuselage: fuselage main structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 767-34AF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310/cases.md?model=1385212), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 767-34AF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=1385212), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Boeing 767-34AF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=1385212), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of meteorologic cond](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Flight crew; cases with it: [Boeing 767-34AF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md?model=1385212), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/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: [Boeing 767-34AF, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=1385212), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis United Parcel Service (UPS) flight 2918 experienced a tailstrike while landing on runway 6 at San Bernardino International Airport (SBD), San Bernardino, California. The non-scheduled cargo flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage near the tail. Flight 2918 was originally destined for Ontario International Airport (ONT), Ontario California. After a missed approach at ONT, the flight crew elected to divert to SBD due to fuel state and unfavorable wind conditions at ONT. According to the flight crew, the approach into SBD was stabilized at both 1,000 and 500 ft above ground level (agl). The flight crew further stated that during landing on runway 6, the captain began a normal flare at about 100 ft agl, but he felt the airplane “nose come up and sink rate accelerate” at about 15 ft. The captain stated the airplane contacted the runway “slightly more firmly than usual” but it did not bounce. Once on the runway, the flight crew received an aural windshear warning. Flight data showed the airplane’s pitch attitude reached a maximum of 8.1° at touchdown, sufficient to cause contact between the airplane’s lower fuselage and the runway. Additionally, flight data showed a vertical acceleration of 2.2g, and a windshear warning simultaneous with the touchdown that lasted about 5 seconds. An unscheduled stabilizer trim movement warning occurred immediately after the touchdown. Lastly, an unscheduled stabilizer movement, consistent with the tailstrike event, occurred momentarily about half a second after touchdown. During postlanding rollout, the captain recalled seeing a “tail skid” message on the engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS). During postlanding taxi, the first officer was unable to reset the stabilizer trim. Postlanding inspection by the captain revealed substantial damage to the lower fuselage consistent with its contact with the runway. Further inspection of the airplane found damage to the tail skid shock strut and its support assembly as well as the horizontal stabilizer ballscrew actuator (jackscrew), both as a result of the tailstrike. The tail skid damage was consistent with the tail skid message observed on the EICAS by the flight crew. The flight data showed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction that would have contributed to the airplane pitch angle when the airplane touched down on the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N324UP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N324UP), registered now, S/N 27750, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 767 (34AF) - Registry model: [Boeing 767-34AF](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-767-34af) (registry code 1385212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF6-80 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-80-series) (registry code 30025, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27750 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: GE CF6-80 SERIES 56218 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF6-80 SERIES 57078 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: United Parcel Service Co - Registered owner: United Parcel Service Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 9, 2025 - Departed: KSDF, Louisville, KY - Destination: KONT, Ontario, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SBD, San Bernardino Intl, runway 06/24, 10,000 × 200 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,831 total, 2,753 in this make and model, 4,853 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; airline transport, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,679 total, 5 in this make and model, 2,780 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; injuries: none; airline transport; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KSBD, 13 nm away - METAR: METAR KSBD 100155Z 36005KT 10SM CLR 19/M18 A3015= ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199538. 3.6 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120.1 - DCA25LA085 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19423923&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20UPS2918%20N324UP%20SBD%20Tail%20Strike_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19424402&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Crew%20Statements_redacted%20(DCA25LA085)-Rel.pdf - N324UP damage photos (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19424412&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N324UP%20Investigation%20Photos%20(DCA25LA085)-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.