28 Mar 2019: Boeing 737 7H4 — Southwest Airlines

28 Mar 2019: Boeing 737 7H4 (N249WN) — Southwest Airlines

No fatalities • Nashville, TN, United States

Probable cause

a collision with a bird.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

On March 27, 2019 at 7:25pm central daylight time (EDT), a Boeing 737-700, N249WN, operated by Southwest Airlines as flight 975 struck a bird with the left horizontal stabilizer while descending through 2,500 feet on approach to the Berry-Nashville International Airport (KBNA), Nashville, Tennessee. The airplane landed at KBNA with no further incident. There were no injuries and the airplane was substantial damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 from the Pittsburgh International Airport (KPIT), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to KBNA.

Damage to the airplane included a 12 inch crack in the forward spar, requiring replacement of the horizontal stabilizer. Bird residue was sent to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History laboratory, and identified as a Great Blue Heron.

Contributing factors

  • cause Effect on equipment

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 210/06kt, vis 10sm

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