A UPS Boeing 767-300, registration N305UP performing freight flight 5X-916 from Louisville,KY to Albuquerque,NM (USA) with 2 crew, landed on Albuquerque’s runway 03 but touched down hard and struck its tail onto the runway surface. The aircraft rolled out without further incident and taxied to the apron.
The aircraft remained on the ground for about 75 minutes, then continued flight 5X-916 to Ontario,CA (USA), landed on Ontario’s runway 26L and taxied to the apron. Only then damage was discovered to the tail section of the aircraft.
On Mar 16th 2016 the FAA reported the aircraft received damage to the aft fuselage belly skins, internal structure, aft drain mast and tail skid while landing in Ontario. An inspector was sent to the airport within one hour after the message about the occurrence arrived on Mar 5th 2016.
The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Ontario for a week until Mar 12th 2016, then ferried to Mobile,AL (USA) and remained on the ground in Mobile until Apr 14th 2016 before resuming service.
On Jul 16th 2016 the NTSB reported the actual tailstrike had already happened in Albuquerque. The NTSB is investigating, however, has not dispatched investigators and is using data provided by the various entities like FAA or the operator.
The Aviation Herald
