Incident
On March 27, 2019, at 7:25 p.m. central daylight time (EDT), Southwest Airlines flight 975, a Boeing 737-700 registered as N249WN, encountered a bird strike while descending through 2,500 feet on approach to Berry-Nashville International Airport (KBNA) in Nashville, Tennessee. The aircraft struck a bird with its left horizontal stabilizer. The flight subsequently landed at KBNA without further incident.
Aircraft and Flight Details
The flight was a regularly scheduled passenger service operating under 14 CFR Part 121. It originated from Pittsburgh International Airport (KPIT) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with Nashville as its destination. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact.
Damage
Inspection of the airplane revealed a 12-inch crack in the forward spar of the left horizontal stabilizer. The damage necessitated replacement of the entire horizontal stabilizer assembly.
Bird Identification
Bird residue recovered from the aircraft was sent to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History laboratory for analysis. The species was identified as a Great Blue Heron.