Boeing 737 accident near Kingston, Jm, December 23, 2009
On December 23, 2009 at about 3:22 am local time, a Boeing 737, registered N977AN, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Kingston (Norman Manley International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 14 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 139 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2009 · about 3:22 am local time
- Place
- Kingston, Jamaica · Norman Manley International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 14 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 139 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 823 · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- N977AN · no longer on the register · serial 29550
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: American Airlines Inc.,
The flight
- Departed from: MIA Miami FL at 1:22 am
- Destination: MKJP Kingston
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12, 8,911 ft by 151 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 14 | 134 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.