NTSB DCA22LA044 — 2021-12-13 · Paradise, Nevada, United States

Current FAA registration · N307FR

Make / Model: AIRBUS A320-251N
Year of manufacture: 2017 · 4 years old at event
Engine: CFM INTL LEAP-1A26
Seats / Engines: 190 seats · 2 engines
Last airworthiness date: 20170224
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A339E0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N307FR Airbus A320-251N None

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual narrative

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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Identification/recognition-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_DCA22LA044.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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