Probable cause
The captain’s decision to adjust his flight instruments while taxiing the airplane.
NTSB analysis
On May 28, 2021, at 12:40 PM central daylight time, American Airlines flight 1005, a Boeing 737-800, N834NN, struck a light pole while taxing for takeoff at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. There were no injuries to the 166 passengers and crew onboard. The airplane was substantially damaged. The regularly scheduled international passenger flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from DFW to the Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS), Nassau, Bahamas.
According to the flight crew, this was the Captain’s first flight of the month after being on vacation, and it was the first officer’s (FO) first day back flying since September 2020 due to furlough. The flight crew indicated that prior to pushback, they had setup the airplane for a south departure from DFW. However, after being pushed back, they completed the After Start Checklist and then noticed that the other traffic was departing to the north. After confirming this by tuning in the Automated Terminal Information System (ATIS), they updated their departure clearance before calling the ramp for taxi clearance.
The captain stated that the airplane must have veered left of centerline as he and the FO’s attention was focused inside the cockpit as they were reconfiguring the instruments. The captain indicated that the left wing struck a light pole, as he was adjusting the course and heading knobs. The captain stopped the airplane, called ground control, and the airplane was subsequently towed back to the gate. Daylight visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Post-flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the left wing, including damage to the number 1 leading edge slat, wing skin, front spar, and track ribs.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA21LA137 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 28, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Dallas Fort Worth Internationa (DFW)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Boeing 737-823
- N-number
- N834NN
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2010
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 121 (airline)
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.