B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 148; Flight Crew Total 16750; Flight Crew Type 5169
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Human Factors
We were getting vectors to final approach for the ILS. The approach procedures were fully briefed prior to approach. We had been flying IMC for most of the descent and in and out of light rain showers. Auto brakes were set to level 3 and I was planning a Flaps 30 landing. Vref was 142 knots and initially planning a target of 150 knots due to winds. Approach needed us to slow to 150 knots on approximately a 20 mile final for spacing. The plane was in landing configuration and flaps 30 from about 4;500 feet. I elected to leave autopilot and autothrottles engaged due to weather. I believe we broke out and acquired the runway at approximately 2;300 feet MSL. I disconnected autopilot at approximately 500 feet AGL and auto throttles at about 150 feet AGL. It was a very stable approach. At approximately 70 to 50 feet AGL as I scanned the instruments I noticed the glide slope was showing just a very slightly high indication maybe a quarter dot. I was thinking I needed to ensure I landed in touchdown zone due to the rain and also being a relatively short runway. With that as my mindset I lowered the nose what I thought was just a little bit more to make sure I didn't land long. As I was just starting to begin the flare the First Officer (FO) announced a 1;000 FPM descent rate. I didn't want to correct too abruptly and possibly drive the main gear onto the runway harder. As I was making the correction we touched down and bounced. As we were on our way back down I added some back pressure and we landed firmly. The rollout and taxi to the gate was uneventful. After the parking checklist was complete I discussed the landing with the FO. He as well as I believed that we did not strike the tail just due to the observed pitch attitude. After customers deplaned; I went outside to inspect the tail skid and saw evidence of a tail strike. I placed it in logbook and called maintenance to alert them to this write up.Finally; during a post flight debriefing with the flight attendants; it was discovered that one of the attendants that was seated in the aft galley area may have suffered a neck strain due to the firm landing and was planning to seek medical attention.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737 crew reported a tail strike due to a bounced landing during touchdown.