Airplane Crash – Boeing 737-800 – N331SL

Airframe:  Boeing 737-800NG
Reg #:  N331SL-Solaris Retro USA
PIC:  Hector Esparta
Airport of Incident:  KSFO-San Francisco
Deaths/Injuries:  0 Deaths, Minor Injuries to PAX and crew.

Findings
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Flight took off on time and proceeded normally through the entire KLAX-KSFO flight.   Aircraft descended on schedule and was cleared to land.   Flight Data recorders show the aircraft may have been exceeding speed restrictions prior to the approach but this does not appear to be a contributing factor to the accident.    Flight Data shows the aircraft was doing only 125 knots prior to touchdown which is in the stall range for a 737-800 with a full passenger load.   As a result the aircraft fell out of the sky on to the runway with a touchdown rate exceeding 1100 feet per minute.   The hard impact on the runway buckled the landing struts of the right main and nose wheel resulting in a collapse of the gear.  The aircraft then slid off the runway to the right into the grass causing further damage to the right engine, wing and causing buckling on the fuselage.  There were no causalities but minor arm, neck and head injuries were reported.   Passengers with such injuries were taken to local hospitals for examination and later released.   Aircraft has been taken out of service for repairs.  Repairs will be around $6,000,000 and the aircraft will be out of service for 3 to 4 days while the damaged parts are replaced and the aircraft is fully inspected for air worthiness.