What happened
On December 8, 2005, at approximately 19:14 CST, Southwest Airlines flight 1248, a Boeing 737-7H4 registered as N471WN, was completing a flight from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). The aircraft landed on runway 31 center (31C) under instrument meteorological conditions.
Following the landing, the aircraft ran off the departure end of the runway. During the excursion, the plane rolled through a blast fence and an airport perimeter fence, eventually reaching an adjacent roadway. On this roadway, the aircraft struck an automobile. The collision resulted in 1 fatality (a child in the automobile), 1 person with serious injuries, and 3 occupants with minor injuries within the vehicle. Among the 103 occupants on board the aircraft, which included 88 passengers, 3 flight attendants, and 2 pilots, 18 received minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Findings
The investigation confirmed the aircraft was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 regulations. The accident occurred during the landing phase of flight in weather conditions characterized by instrument meteorological conditions.