Airbus A321-271N accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, September 23, 2021
On September 23, 2021 at about 7:44 pm local time, a 2018 Airbus A321-271N, registered N208HA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Honolulu, Hawaii (Daniel K. Inouye International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 134 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The captain’s improper landing flare, which resulted in an excessive sink rate and subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 2021 · about 7:44 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Daniel K. Inouye International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 134 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A321-271N, built 2018 · all A321-271Ns on the register
- Registration
- N208HA · registry record · serial 8123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the operator, the captain was the pilot flying, and the first officer was the pilot monitoring for the flight from the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), San Jose, California to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Hawaii. The taxi, takeoff, climb, cruise, and descent phases of the flight were uneventful. The crew was vectored for the ILS approach to runway 4R at HNL. The ILS approach was uneventful with the crew achieving all of Hawaiian Airlines stabilized approach criteria at both the 1000 ft and 500 ft AGL. The approach remained uneventful until the flare was initiated at approximately 25 feet AGL. Winds were reported to be approximately 11 kts with gusting up to 18 kts. At this point the captain reported that he felt the aircraft had an accelerated sink rate. To arrest the sink rate, he initiated a slight increase in pitch angle. He then heard an automated audible pitch alert generated by the aircraft and then felt a firm bounce of the aircraft upon initial touchdown. The crew initiated a go-around and had an uneventful approach and landing on runway 04R. Following the landing the crew completed an uneventful taxi and shutdown at the gate. The tailstrike resulted in abrasion damage over an area of about 14 feet long by 2 feet wide along the aft lower fuselage. There also were several fractures to the internal cargo lining support structure and to at least one frame.
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 NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,319 hours in all; 1,644 in this make and model; 158 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 1,346 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 16, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 185 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 16, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 725,421 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 15, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 206,132 lb
- Seats: 200
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Iae PW1133G-JM (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae PW1133G-JM (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hawaiian Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KSJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 04R, 9,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 am from ATIS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 6 | |||
| Passengers | 128 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 19, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Operator Provide Damage Assessment | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.