What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Dec 2005 involved a Boeing 737-700, registration N471WN, at Chicago, IL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilots' failure to use available reverse thrust in a timely manner to safely slow or stop the airplane after landing, which resulted in a runway overrun. This failure occurred because the pilots' first experience and lack of familiarity with the airplane's autobrake system distracted them from thrust reverser…

Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 Runway Excursion at Chicago Midway (N471WN)

On December 9, 2005, a Boeing 737-700 (registration N471WN) was involved in an aviation accident near Chicago, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilots' failure to use available reverse thrust in a timely manner to safely slow or stop the airplane after landing, which resulted in a runway overrun. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data API Editorial standards

Aircraft registered N471WN. Photo: Niels Schieck / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On December 8, 2005, a Boeing 737-7H4 (N471WN) operated by Southwest Airlines ran off the runway at Chicago Midway Airport after landing, striking a car and killing a child.

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On December 8, 2005, at approximately 1914 central standard time, Southwest Airlines Flight 1248, a Boeing 737-7H4 with registration N471WN, experienced a runway excursion at Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) in Chicago, Illinois. The aircraft had departed from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in Baltimore, Maryland, at approximately 1758 eastern standard time. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan during instrument meteorological conditions.

Runway excursion

Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 Runway Excursion at Chicago Midway (N471WN)

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