# Accident 20100409034329A: Boeing 737-3H4, Los Angeles, CA, April 9, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 9, 2010, 19:30 local time
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Airport: Los Angeles International Airp
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: SWAA
- Location: 33.9467° N, 118.4003° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9467&lon=-118.4003&mi=10
- Aircraft: N624SW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N624SW-2021-05-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-3H4 (registry code 138447K, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3h4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-3H4
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 109
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10FA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA199) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100409034329A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 09, 2010 AT 1930 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME (PDY) A BOEING 737-3H4 WAS STRUK BY A RUNAWAY BAGGAGE TUG AT THE LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KLAX).  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING PUSHED BACK FROM THE GATE FOR A FLIGHT TO TUCSON, ARIZONA.  AT THAT TIME A SOUTHWEST GROUND SERVICE EMPLOYEE PARKED A BAGGAGE TUG BETWEEN GATE 3 AND GATE 5 AT TERMINAL 1.  THE EMPLOYEE EXITED THE TUG TO RETRIEVE TWO BAGS SITTING ON THE RAMP, PUTTING ONE OF THE BAGS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.  AS THE EMPLOYEE PICKED UP THE SECOND BAG HE OBSERVED THE TUG MOVING TOWARDS A FUELING CART THAT WAS ALSO PARKED BETWEEN GATE 3 AND 5.  THE TUG ROLLED ABOUT 30 FEET STRUK THE FUELING CART THEN VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE FUELING CART AND  PROCEEDED TOWARDS THE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AIRCRAFT (N624SW) THAT HAD JUST BEEN PUSHED BACK FROM GATE 5.  THE TUG TRAVELLED ABOUT 130 FEET FURTHER IMPACTING N624SW'S NUMBER 1 ENGINE.  THE TUG CONTINUED UNDER THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING SKIN DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE, THEN STOPPED AFTER IMPACTING THE RIGHT ENGINE NACELLE.  NO PASSENGERS OR GROUND CREW WERE INJURED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR10FA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA199), Apr 10, 2010: Boeing 737-3H4 (N624SW), Los Angeles, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The tug operator’s failure to comply with company procedures when parking an unoccupied baggage tug, and the failure of the tug’s seat switch to disengage the electric motor when weight was removed…

## Other reports on N624SW (1)

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

- [Accident 20051012026399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051012026399A), Oct 12, 2005: Boeing 7373H4 (N624SW), Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Swa 2080, N624SW, was holding behind another aircraft near spot 5 on delta 13 for departure on runway 25R when his right horizontal stabilizer was struck…

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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