Background
On January 12, 2014, at about 1810 Central Standard Time, Southwest Airlines flight 4013, a Boeing 737-7H4 (registration N272WN), operated as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Chicago Midway International Airport to Branson Airport (BBG) in Missouri. The aircraft carried 124 passengers and 7 crew members. The flight mistakenly landed at M. Graham Clark Downtown Airport (PLK), located approximately 6 miles north of the intended destination. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft sustained no damage. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
Flight History
The flight was scheduled to depart Chicago Midway at 1545 CST but departed at 1643 due to delays from the previous flight. The first officer served as the pilot flying, the captain as the pilot monitoring, and a company dispatcher occupied the flight deck jumpseat as an observer. After climbing through 18,000 feet at 1702, the crew discussed the intended landing runway at BBG, agreeing on runway 14. They planned a visual approach backed up by an RNAV instrument approach and use of the heads-up display.
At 1744, air traffic control cleared the flight to descend to 24,000 feet and later direct to BBG. At 1750, the crew received the BBG automated terminal information service weather report, indicating runway 14 in use. Around 1752, ATC cleared the flight to descend to 4,000 feet and advised a visual approach to runway 14, directing them to proceed to the VUCUG intersection. The crew configured their navigation displays with 5 and 10 nautical mile rings around BBG.
Crew Information
The captain, aged 58, had approximately 15,700 total flight hours, including 10,400 hours on the Boeing 737. He held an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and a valid first-class medical certificate. He had not previously flown into Branson Airport. The first officer, aged 62, reported 20,538 total hours, with 9,880 hours on the Boeing 737. He held an ATP certificate and a first-class medical certificate with a near-vision limitation. He had flown into Branson Airport once before, on June 24, 2013. At the time of the incident, the captain had been on duty for about 8 hours, and the first officer for about 10 hours.
Approach and Landing
At 1800, ATC advised BBG tower that the flight was 20 miles northeast for a visual approach. The crew reported seeing a beacon and lights, and at 1802:57, the captain stated "field in sight." ATC cleared them for a visual approach to runway 14 and terminated radar service. The flight contacted BBG tower, which cleared them to land.
From 1805 to 1808, the crew configured the aircraft for landing. They touched down on runway 12 at PLK at 1809:15, about 300 feet past the displaced threshold. During the landing roll, the captain remarked, "this ain't it," and the crew applied maximum braking. The aircraft stopped approximately 300 feet from the end of the paved surface.
At 1809:45, the captain contacted BBG tower and stated, "I assume I'm not at your airport."
Aftermath
Both pilots underwent drug and alcohol screening on January 13, 2014, with negative results. The aircraft was not damaged, and there were no injuries. The NTSB investigation noted that the crew had not discussed airport lighting during their approach briefing. The BBG tower controller indicated that runway edge lights were normally kept off to save money and were turned on after receiving notification of the inbound flight. The approach controller did not provide the location of other nearby airports as per FAA order 7110.65.