# Accident 20151215020399A: Boeing 737-3H4, Nashville, TN, December 15, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 15, 2015, 17:15 local time
- Place: Nashville, TN
- Airport: Nashville Int.
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: SWAA
- Location: 36.1000° N, 86.6000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1000&lon=-86.6000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N649SW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N649SW-2021-06-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-3H4 (registry code 138447K, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3h4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International CFM56 series (registry code 13802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-3H4
- Reported engine: CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES
- People aboard: 138
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 9
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 13,321 total, 13,321 in this make and model, 195 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA16LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151215020399A

## Narrative

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

SOUTHWEST FLIGHT 31 DEPARTED IAH AND LANDED ON BNA RUNWAY 20R AT APPROXIMATELY 17:12 LOCAL TIME. WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON T2, AT THE INTERSECTION OF TAXIWAY J, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A 45 DEGREE RIGHT TURN AND TAXIED INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED ON ITS NOSE, MAIN GEARS, LEFT ENGINE, AND RIGHT WING. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR HAD COLLAPSED AND AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE NOSE SECTION FORWARD AND AFT OF NOSE LANDING GEAR. AT APPROXIMATELY 17:15 (L), THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND NOTIFIED TOWER THAT THEY WERE STUCK IN THE MUD AND NEED THE TRUCKS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, PASSENGERS WERE EVACUATED VIA RIGHT/FRONT DOOR SLIDE, AND REAR DOOR SLIDES. AT APPROXIMATELY 1725 (L), AIRPORT OPERATIONS PERSONNEL WERE FIRST ON SCENE AND FOUND PASSENGERS CONGREGATING ON TAXIWAY J AND TERMINAL RAMP.

## 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 DCA16LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16LA032), Dec 15, 2015: Boeing 737 3H4 (N649SW), Nashville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the flight crew's early turn towards the assigned gate because taxiway lighting had been inadvertently turned off by the controller-in-charge which resulted in the airplane leaving the paved surface.…

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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