Airbus Industrie A320 211 accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 10, 2011
On November 10, 2011 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 1992 Airbus Industrie A320 211, registered N331NW, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold- airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 150 people were on board or involved. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
In-flight collision with birds during initial climb, which resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2011 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold- · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 150 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Airbus Industrie A320 211 211, built 1992 · all A320 211s on the register
- Registration
- N331NW · no longer on the register · serial 318
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 10, 2011, at about 1157 central standard time, Delta flight 1691, an A320-211, N331NW, experienced a bird strike during initial climb after departure from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (KMSP), Minneapolis, Minnesota. There were no injuries to the 150 passengers and crewmembers onboard and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operating as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 regularly scheduled passenger flight from KMSP to Reno–Tahoe International Airport (KRNO), Reno, Nevada. According to the flight crew, a flock of "50-100" large white birds, possibly geese, appeared in front of the airplane during initial climb. The first officer, who was the pilot flying, increased the rate of climb to attempt to avoid the flock, but at least one bird made impacted the aircraft. After striking the bird, the flight crew received an Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor message for loss of cabin pressure and the right side airspeed indication became erratic. The flight crew declared an emergency and made an uneventful landing back at KMSP. Examination of the aircraft after landing revealed substantial damage to the forward pressure bulkhead and minor damage to the right engine.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Birdstrike during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,191 hours in all; 6,307 in this make and model; 154 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 29, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,154 hours in all; 5,553 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 28, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 59,784 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 22, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 166,488 lb
- Seats: 156
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM-56-5A1 (turbofan); 57,299 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM-56-5A1/F (turbofan); 26,099 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KMSP Minneapolis MN
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30R, 8,200 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; ovct at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KMSP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 144 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N331NW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.