United B739 at Houston on Jan 10th 2024, tail strike on landing
Last Update: May 18, 2024 / 02:36:48 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jan 10, 2024
Classification
Report
Cause
Tail strike on landing
Airline
United
Flight number
UA-2498
Departure
Phoenix, United States
Destination
Houston Intercontinental, United States
Aircraft Registration
N62883
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-900
ICAO Type Designator
B739
The aircraft remained on the ground in Houston until May 7th 2024, then positioned to Chicago Rockford,IL (USA) and still on the ground in Rockford 11 days after landing in Rockford.
On May 18th 2024 the NTSB released their final report and their investigation docket concluding the probable cause of the accident was:
The airplane’s aft fuselage impacted the runway as a result of a delayed flare and subsequent nose-high pitch inputs during the aircraft’s multiple touchdowns.
The NTSB analysed:
United Airlines flight 2498 experienced a tail strike while landing at George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Houston, Texas. The flight was a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona to IAH.
The flight crew statements and flight data showed a stable approach to the landing flare. The first officer was pilot flying and stated he began the flare slightly late. Both crewmembers stated the touchdown was firm with a slight “nose-high” bounce. The flight crew was not aware the airplane’s tail had impacted the runway until the ground crew at the gate notified them.
Flight data showed that the airplane touched down on the runway with a 6.5-degree nose-up attitude and vertical acceleration of 1.87g. The speed brakes deployed two seconds after the initial touchdown. At the same time, the aircraft became airborne again and the nose began to lower. Two seconds later, as the speed brakes retracted, the airplane’s pitch began to increase, and the airplane touched down a second time with pitch of 7.2 degrees and a vertical acceleration of about 2.87g. The airplane became airborne for a 3rd time for about a second before it touched down for the final time. The nose was lowered to the ground, and speed brakes were extended again.
Post-accident assessment of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the auxiliary power unit (APU) firewall bulkhead that occurred as a result of the aircraft’s aft fuselage’s contact with the runway.
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Jan 10, 2024
Classification
Report
Cause
Tail strike on landing
Airline
United
Flight number
UA-2498
Departure
Phoenix, United States
Destination
Houston Intercontinental, United States
Aircraft Registration
N62883
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-900
ICAO Type Designator
B739
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Fleet type match
United B788 over Ivory Coast on Jan 24th 2025, sudden loss of altitude causes 33 injuries
A United Boeing 787-8, registration N27903 performing flight UA-613 from Lagos (Nigeria) to Washington Dulles,DC (USA) with 245 passengers and 11…
Fleet type match
United B772 at San Diego on Jan 16th 2025, right main gear did not retract
A United Boeing 777-200, registration N768UA performing flight UA-1873 from Sn Diego,CA to Washington Dulles,DC (USA), was climbing out of San…
Fleet type match
United B764 near Newark on Jan 18th 2025, hydraulic problem
A United Boeing 767-400, registration N69059 performing flight UA-2143 from Newark,NJ (USA) to San Juan (Puerto Rico) with 243 people on board, was…
Fleet type match
United B763 at Houston on Jul 29th 2023, hard landing
A United Boeing 767-300, registration N641UA performing flight UA-702 from Newark,NJ to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) with 193 passengers and 9…
Fleet type match
United B39M at Chicago on Jan 12th 2025, coyote strike on departure
A United Boeing 737-9 MAX, registration N37507 performing flight UA-1727 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Phoenix,AZ (USA), was accelerating for takeoff…
Newest articles
Jeju B738 at Muan on Dec 29th 2024, gear up landing and overrun
A Jeju Boeing 737-800, registration HL8088 performing flight 7C-2216 from Bangkok (Thailand) to Muan (South Korea) with 175 passengers and 6 crew,…
Fleet type match
Easyjet Switzerland A320 near Stockholm on Jan 24th 2025, smell of smoke in cabin
An Easyjet Switzerland Airbus A320-200, registration HB-JXF performing flight U2-1498 from Rovaniemi (Finland) to Geneva (Switzerland) with 115…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
SafetyScan Pro provides streamlined access to thousands of aviation accident reports. Tailored for your safety management efforts. Book your demo today
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways