DCA25LA306

NTSB accident investigation · Airbus Industrie A320-212 · Chase City, VA · August 28, 2025

Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
August 28, 2025, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
Place
Chase City, VA
Injuries
1 serious, 2 minor, 165 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N373NWAirbus Industrie A320-212
Defining event
Enroute-descent: Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation
Weather
Not reported
Status
Completed · report May 27, 2026
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Parties
FAA AVP-110, Delta
Case key
200898

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The abrupt maneuver required to comply with a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory during descent.

Findings · 1

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.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Flight crewAirbus Industrie A320-212: 1 caseAll aircraft: 9,295 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.

Analysis

On August 28, 2025, Delta Air Lines flight 737, an Airbus A320-212, experienced a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) resolution advisory (RA) while enroute from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia, to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington, DC. According to the flight crew, the airplane was level at flight level (FL) 290 when the crew requested a lower altitude from air traffic control (ATC) in preparation for arrival into DCA. ATC indicated there was traffic below them, cleared the flight to descend to FL280 and stated that further descent would be available after traffic below them was cleared. The captain selected FL280 and initiated the descent with the autopilot engaged. The first officer stated that airplane was descending at about 1,000 feet/min. While descending through about FL284, the flight crew received a TCAS RA instructing the crew to level off. The captain disengaged the autopilot and leveled off at about FL285. The flight crew reported the TCAS RA to ATC and resumed the descent to FL280 after the RA cleared. At the time of the TCAS RA, the flight attendants (FA) were beginning to prepare the cabin and galleys for landing. The FA in the aft galley was thrown to the floor, injuring both knees. She was assisted to her seat by the other FAs and several doctors and nurse passengers provided care for the remainder of the flight. The lead FA notified the flight crew of the injured FA. The flight crew contacted Delta to have medical personnel meet the airplane at the gate. After landing, the injured FA was transported to a local hospital, where she was diagnosed with fractures to both kneecaps. Two other FAs reported minor injuries but were not transported to the hospital.

Aircraft

Registration
N373NW
Reported as
Airbus Industrie A320-212
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1641
Built
2001
Airframe hours
68,304
Engines
CFM Intl. CFM56 SERIES, turbo fanCFM Intl. CFM56 SERIES, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Delta Air Lines Inc
Registered owner
Delta Air Lines Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · August 25, 2025
Departed
ATL · Atlanta, GA
Destination
DCA · Arlington, VA
Equipment
ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute

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 · 6

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
51
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 18, 2025
Seat
Left
Flight hours
19,720 total · 1,518 in this make and model · 120 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Unknown
Seat
Right
Flight hours
3,568 total · 1,050 in this make and model · 1,309 as pilot in command
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Serious
Seat
Front
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Minor
Seat
Front
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Minor
Seat
Front
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Minor
Seat
Front

Weather

Conditions
Not reported
METAR
METAR KDCA 281552Z 14004KT 10SM FEW090 SCT250 25/09 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02500094

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 27, 2026, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.6 MB in all.