Airbus A321 231 accident near Christ Church, Bb, September 15, 2017
On September 15, 2017, a Airbus A321 231, registered N137AA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Christ Church. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 143 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- September 15, 2017
- Place
- Christ Church, Barbados · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 143 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A321 231 231 · all A321 231s on the register
- Registration
- N137AA · registry record · serial 6647
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
The Barbados Civil Aviation Department has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a AIRBUS A321 231 airplane that occurred on September 15, 2017. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Barbados's investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13.All investigative information will be released by the government of Barbados.
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
- Tailstrike during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 205,030 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 137 |
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 N137AA 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.