Airbus Industrie A330-323 and Airbus A321-231 accident near Charlotte, North Carolina, June 5, 2010
On June 5, 2010 at about 9:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Airbus Industrie A330-323 (N277AY) and Airbus A321-231 (N508AY), were involved in the same accident near Charlotte, North Carolina (Charlotte/Douglas Internationa airport). No one was hurt; 454 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Airbus A330 flight crew's failure to maintain clearance from a standing airplane while taxiing.
The Airbus A330 flight crew's failure to maintain clearance from a standing airplane while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2010 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Charlotte, North Carolina · Charlotte/Douglas Internationa · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 454 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Airbus Industrie A330-323 · all A330-323s on the register
- Registration
- N277AY · no longer on the register · serial 0380
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Airbus A321-231 · all A321-231s on the register
- Registration
- N508AY · registry record · serial 3740
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Airbus Industrie A330-323 final · quoted from the NTSB record
An Airbus A330 was standing on taxiway behind other aircraft holding for re-routes due to weather. An air traffic controller asked the flight crew if they could depart off of a different runway and the crew accepted the clearance. The A330 then had to make a left turn onto a different taxiway and the captain asked the first officer if there was adequate clearance from their right wing tip to the tail of the standing A321 ahead. The first officer replied that there was adequate clearance and continued with preparing for takeoff. The flight crew subsequently felt a jolt as the right wing tip of the A330 contacted the rudder of the A321, resulting in minor damage to the wing tip of the A330 and substantial damage to the rudder of the A321.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Airbus A321-231 final · quoted from the NTSB record
An Airbus A330 was standing on a taxiway behind other aircraft holding for re-routes due to weather. An air traffic controller asked the flight crew if they could depart off of a different runway and the crew accepted the clearance. The A330 then had to make a left turn onto a different taxiway and the captain asked the first officer if there was adequate clearance from their right wing tip to the tail of the standing A321 ahead. The first officer replied that there was adequate clearance and continued with preparing for takeoff. The flight crew subsequently felt a jolt as the right wing tip of the A330 contacted the rudder of the A321, resulting in minor damage to the wing tip of the A330 and substantial damage to the rudder of the A321.
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 for the Airbus Industrie A330-323 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Perception › Flight crew
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 21,619 hours in all; 880 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 3, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,376 hours in all; 3,034 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 24, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 511,000 lb
- Seats: 379
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W PW4168A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W PW4168A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: US Airways INC
The flight
- Departed from: CLT Charlotte NC
- Destination: Frankfurt
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from CLT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 9 | |||
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 288 |
The factual record for the Airbus A321-231 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Perception › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 13,000 in this make and model; 198 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 18, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 4,200 in this make and model; 118 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 31, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,077 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 5, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 203,000 lb
- Seats: 379
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: US Airways INC
The flight
- Departed from: CLT Charlotte NC
- Destination: SFO San Francisco CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 148 |
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.