Airbus A320-251N accident near Paradise, Nevada, December 13, 2021
On December 13, 2021 at about 8:33 am local time, a 2017 Airbus A320-251N, registered N307FR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Paradise, Nevada (Harry Reid International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 123 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The captain’s failure to maintain proper pitch attitude during landing, likely caused by improper seat position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2021 · about 8:33 am local time
- Place
- Paradise, Nevada · Harry Reid International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 123 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320-251N, built 2017 · all A320-251Ns on the register
- Registration
- N307FR · registry record · serial 7472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a tailstrike during landing at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada. The captain hand flew the approach with auto thrust off. He stated that the landing picture looked normal and started the flare about 1000 feet down the runway. However, during the flare, the pitch, pitch alert activated, and the airplane bounced. After the event, the captain checked his seat position and found that it was 2 inches higher than normal, which may have altered his sight picture. Post-flight inspection revealed abrasion damage to the lower fuselage skin, deformation to the aft pressure bulkhead, damage to multiple frame fasteners, and multiple pulled fasteners.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,537 hours in all; 1,892 in this make and model; 1,525 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 20, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,276 hours in all; 976 in this make and model; 3,835 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 24, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,088 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 11, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 169,755 lb
- Seats: 195
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl LEAP-1A26 (turbojet); 11,633 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl LEAP-1A26 (turbojet); 13,816 hours total
- Operator: Frontier Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: KMEM Memphis TN at 4:04 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26L, 10,526 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 6 | |||
| Passengers | 117 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 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, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Captain's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | First Officer's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Flight Attendant Statement | PDF, 1 page | 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.