# Accident 20160217002962A: Boeing 737-7H4, Detroit, MI, February 17, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 17, 2016, 06:00 local time
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Collision on the ground
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: SWAA
- Location: 42.2075° N, 83.3519° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2075&lon=-83.3519&mi=10
- Aircraft: N784SW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N784SW-2024-10-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-7H4 (registry code 1384404, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7h4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International CFM56 series (registry code 13802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-7H4
- Reported engine: CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES
- People aboard: 107
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 9,656 total, 1,279 in this make and model, 132 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA16CA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA094) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160217002962A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2016, AT APPROXIMATELY 0600 LOCAL TIME, THE EMI-FSDO WAS NOTIFIED OF AN ACCIDENT AT DTW AIRPORT INVOLVING TWO BOEING 737 AIRCRAFT CONTACTING EACH OTHER ON THE 21R DEICING PAD, A SOUTHWEST AIRLINES B737-700 (N784SW) AND AMERICAN AIRLINES B737-800 (N925NN). N784SW WAS STRUCK BY N925NN. THE GROUND CONTACT RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO N784SW AND MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE N925NN.

THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED THE FOLLOWING FACTS, IN SUMMARY:

?SWA 9 TAXIED FROM THE NORTH TERMINAL TO THE RUNWAY 21R DEICING PAD.

?SWA 9 ENTERED SLOT 3 OF THE DEICING PAD, BUT STOPPED APPROXIMATELY 127? SHORT (THE LENGTH OF THE AIRCRAFT) OF THE STOP LINE AT THE TOP OF THE SLOT. HOWEVER, SWA 9 WAS POSITIONED PARALLEL TO ANOTHER AIRCRAFT BEING DEICED IN SLOT 2.

?SWA 9 WAS NOT MARSHALLED OR GUIDED TO THE CORRECT NOSE-WHEEL STOPPING POINT, CONTRARY TO 2015-2016 DTW AIRPORT REMOTE PAD DEICING PLAN, PAGE 6 AND PAGE 8.

?SWA EMPLOYEES BEGAN DEICING THE AIRCRAFT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED IN THE DEICE PAD.

?SWA UTILIZED ONE DEICING TRUCK AND DEICE CREW, CONTRARY TO THE 2015-2016 DTW AIRPORT REMOTE PAD DEICING PLAN, PAGE 4.

?DURING THE DEICING OF SWA 9, AAL 1241 APPROACHED THE DEICE PAD, HEADING FOR A SLOT TO THE LEFT OF SWA 9.

?BECAUSE OF THE INCORRECT POSITIONING OF SWA 9 IN THE PAD, AAL 1241 WAS TAXIING WITH THE NOSE-WHEEL SIGNIFICANTLY OFF OF THE CENTERLINE, TO MANEUVER AROUND SWA 9. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED TO BE IN A POSITION SUCH THAT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WAS APPROXIMATELY ON THE CENTERLINE.

?WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAXI BEHIND SWA 9, THE RIGHT WINGLET OF AAL 1241 CONTACTED THE LEADING EDGE OF SWA 9?S RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, SLICING UNDERNEATH AND ACROSS, THROUGH THE APU EXHAUST CONE AND STOPPING IN CONTACT WITH THE LEFT ELEVATOR CONTROL TAB.

?POST-ACCIDENT, BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE TOWED BACK TO THE NORTH TERMINAL WHERE PASSENGERS WERE DISEMBARKED NORMALLY.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N925NN, Boeing 737-823: [Accident 20160217001792A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160217001792A)

## 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 DCA16CA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA094), Feb 17, 2016: Boeing 737 7H4 (N784SW), Detroit, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: N925NN flight crew's incorrect evaluation of the clearance between the two aircraft, leading to the inadvertent collision of the winglet with the horizontal stabilizer and elevator of N784SW.

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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