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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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May 21, 2017 · Boeing 757 232 · N633DL

Raleigh, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 21, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (186 uninjured)
Location
Raleigh, NC
Aircraft
Boeing 757 232 (1987)
Tail Number
N633DL
Operator
Delta Air Lines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DCA17LA122

The crew of the Part 121 scheduled passenger flight reported that the landing approach at the destination was stable. The first officer, who was the pilot flying, stated that the airplane was slightly high and fast when he began the landing flare and he pushed the nose down to correct. He then determined that he had overcorrected and began to recover by pulling the control column aft when the airplane landed firmly on the main landing gear and the aft fuselage impacted the runway. Postflight inspection revealed an area of abrasion damage to the aft fuselage and the underlying stringers and frames and damage to the aft pressure bulkhead.

NTSB Probable Cause

the first officer's failure to attain a proper landing flare, which resulted in a tail strike.

Full Narrative

On May 20, 2017, about 2118 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Boeing 757-232, N633DL, operated by Delta Air Lines as flight 2534, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Morrisville, North Carolina. There were no injuries to the 6 flight crew members or 180 passengers on board. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight, which originated from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia. The flight crew reported that the airplane was cleared for the visual approach to runway 5L at RDU and that the approach was "stable" as they descended through 1,000 ft. The first officer, who was the pilot flying, recalled that the airplane was slightly high and fast when he began the landing flare and he pushed the nose down to correct. He then determined that he had overcorrected and began to pull the control column aft. The airplane subsequently landed firmly on the main landing gear and the aft fuselage impacted the runway. The captain stated that the arrival and approach were normal. He added that, upon crossing the runway threshold, it appeared that the first officer flared a bit high but that he corrected by lowering the nose toward the runway. The captain stated that had the first officer continued descent to the runway, they would have made an "acceptable" landing, but he abruptly pulled back on the yoke just before touchdown, and the airplane almost simultaneously contacted the runway on its main landing gear and tail. Postflight inspection revealed an area of abrasion damage to the aft fuselage about 8 ft long by 2 ft wide, affecting 3 skin panels. The fuselage skin was abraded through in several areas with damage to the underlying stringers and frames. The forward and aft chords of the aft pressure bulkhead exhibited abrasion damage and the lower web was buckled.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:18 EDT
Nearest AirportRaleigh-Durham International (0nm N)
Runway5L
Runway Length10000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 757 232
Tail NumberN633DL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDelta Air Lines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsPratt And Whitney · PW2037 · Turbofan · 37000 | Pratt And Whitney · PW2037 · Turbofan · 37000
Seats188

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (186 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured186
Total186
Crew 1Age 59 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 43 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind70° @ 13 kt, gusting 23 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter30.14 inHg
Observation Time00:51
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data