NTSB Factual Report

On June 5, 2001, at approximately 0805 eastern daylight time, Delta flight 274, a Boeing 757, N750AT, experienced a tail strike while landing at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Flight 274 was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 while on an instrument flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight, and there were no injuries. The flight departed at 1210 and operated as a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru.

According to the flight crew, there were two pilots, five flight attendants, and 82 revenue passengers on board flight 274. This leg of the flight was flown by the First Officer. The First Officer said, "When I made my walk around in Lima, I noticed a large number of crates that were prepared for loading onto the aircraft. This seemed unusual, especially in view of the fact we carried virtually no cargo on the trip from Atlanta. Since we were flying a B-757, rather than a B-767, which is more normally flown in our category, the Captain and I discussed the different flying characteristics of the B-757 and the need to take the B-757's tendency to pitch down somewhat abruptly following touchdown into account upon landing."

Upon arriving in Atlanta, the Captain recalled that the final approach and flare appeared normal. The Captain also noted, "At some point during the flare, the tail of the aircraft apparently contacted the runway, although it was not evident to us in the cockpit." While on the landing flare on runway 27R into Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, the tail of the airplane collided with the ground.

Examination of the airplane revealed belly skin damage on the tail section aft of the drain mast. The aft pressure bulkhead showed buckles between S-29 left and S-29 right stringers. Buckles were also noted in the lower web of the aft pressure bulkhead.

Data recovered from the Flight Data Recorder revealed the airplane touchdown at 0805:35 at 110.25 knots and a pitch attitude of 10.37 degrees. Touchdown is based on the air/ground switch state change. The vertical acceleration spike (1.265 g's) at 0805:36.64 indicates the time of the tail strike. The max pitch angle (11.25 degrees) was recorded at 0805:37.05. The VREF airspeed for the airplane is 128 knots.

Both pilots were given additional flight training and returned to normal duty. .

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilots improper landing flare that resulted in the tail section collision with the runway.