Accident · 2009-05-04
What the record says
- Event date
- 2009-05-04
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- Minor injury
- Aircraft
- AIRBUS A320 (N311US)
- Operating rule
- Part 121
- Operator
- NORTHWEST AIRLINES INC Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- NORTHWEST AIRLINES INC
Probable cause
The first officer’s excessive pitch-up of the airplane while landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a tailstrike following a bounced landing. Contributing to the bounced landing were a high descent rate and excessive thrust resulting from the first officer’s delay in retarding the thrust levers to idle, thereby providing residual thrust and preventing spoiler deployment.
Source: NTSB case DCA09FA047Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Airline transport pilot | — | 49 | Class 1 (2008-11-25) | 14,619 total · 2,677 in this make/model · 7,458 as PIC · 209 last 90 days |
| Co-pilot | Airline transport pilot | — | 48 | Class 1 (2009-03-11) | 5,901 total · 200 in this make/model · 100 last 90 days |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.