# Incident 19960617029309I: Boeing 7372H4, Wichita Falls, TX, June 17, 1996

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 1996, 19:10 local time
- Place: Wichita Falls, TX
- Airport: Sheppard Afb-Wichita Falls Mun
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: SWAA
- Location: 33.9888° N, 98.4919° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SHEPPARD AFB/WICHITA FALLS MUNI (SPS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9888&lon=-98.4919&mi=10
- Aircraft: N29SW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29SW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-2H4 (registry code 138448C, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-2h4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series (registry code 52048, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 7372H4
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,100 total, 8,500 in this make and model, 230 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960617029309I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: EMERGENCY LANDING 6/17/96. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES (SWAA) N29SW 737-2H4 FLT NO.273, ENROUTE FROM LUBBOCK, TX. (LBB) TO DALLAS, TX (DAL). FLIGHT 273, DEPARTED LBB AT 1335C. JUST PRIOR TO REACHING ASSIGNED ALTITUDE OF FL230, AND APPROXIMATELY 80 NM WEST OF WICHITA FALLS, TX (SPS), THE APU FIRE WARNING ILLUMINATED AND THE FIRE ALARM SOUNDED. THE APU WAS NOT IN OPERATION. THE APU FIRE CHECKLIST WAS ACCOMPLISHED. THE APU FIRE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT THE NEAREST SUITABLE AIRPORT AND HE ADVISED FORT WORTH OF HIS INTENTIONS TO DIVERT TO SPS AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE LANDING WAS UNEVENTFUL AND THE PASSENGERS DEPLANED USING THE AIRCRAFT AIRSTAIRS. SWAA DISPATCHED ANOTHER AIRCRAFT TO SPS WITH MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL THAT ARRIVED AT 1815. THE PASSENGERS DEPARTED ON THIS AIRCRAFT TO DAL AT 1830 WITH ALL OF THEIR LUGGAGE. SOUTHWEST MAINTENANCE INSPECTED AND DEFERRED THE APU FIRE DETECTOR SYSTEM. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DEPARTED SPS FOR DAL. SWAA MAINTENANCE AT HOUSTON, TX FOUND A WIRE SHORTED OUT IN THE APU FIRE WARNING SYSTEM. WIRE NUMBER W766-452-18R WAS REPAIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL AND OPS CHECKED NORMAL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE. THIS INCIDENT IS CLOSED. THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.  HE ADVISED FORT WORTH, TEXAS OF HIS INTENTIONS TO DIVERT TO SPS.

## Other reports on N29SW (5)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19890611032059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890611032059I), Jun 11, 1989: Boeing 7372H4 (N29SW), San Antonio, TX. NR1 engine starter valve open warning after departure. Shut engine down. Returned. Warning due to faulty switch.
- [Incident 19801205085569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801205085569I), Dec 5, 1980: Boeing 737* (N29SW), Corpus Christi, TX. Za flght diverted due to overheated engine. Overheat sensing loop faulty.
- [Incident 19800220026839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800220026839I), Feb 20, 1980: Boeing 737/ (N29SW), San Antonio, TX. Flight taxied out. Had fuel smell in cockpit. Taxied back to gate. Departed 13 minutes later.
- [Incident 19791025054289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791025054289I), Oct 25, 1979: Boeing 737/ (N29SW), Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Engine turbine failed at rotation.
- [Incident 19780525040359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780525040359I), May 25, 1978: Boeing 737/ (N29SW), Austin, TX, Minor damage. Jetway stalled after craft had been cleared by ground crew to taxi. Wingtip struck jetway.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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