- Date
- February 17, 2016, 06:10 local (11:10 UTC)
- Place
- Detroit, MI
- Injuries
- 155 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi: Ground collisionStanding-engine(s) not oper: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- FAA reports
- 20160217001792A20160217002962A
- Case key
- 92740
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
N925NN · Boeing 737
N784SW · Boeing 737 7H4
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
N925NN · Boeing 737
N784SW · Boeing 737 7H4
Analysis
On 17 February 2016, at about 0610 central daylight time, a B737-800, registration N925NN operated by American Airlines, contacted a Southwest Airlines B737-700, registration N784SW, that was stationary on a deice pad with engines stopped and was being deiced at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Detroit, MI. The American Airlines B737 was taxiing to an adjacent deice pad when it struck the Southwest Airlines B737. N925NN incurred damage to the right winglet, and N784SW sustained substantial damage to its right elevator, elevator tab, stabilizer leading edge, and APU exhaust. There were no injuries on either airplane, and both airplanes taxied back to gate to deplane passengers. Both airplanes were operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as regularly scheduled passenger flights. According to the Southwest flight crew, N784SW was stationary on the deice pad 3 with the engines shut down and was being deiced. According to the deice ground crew, N784SW and a United airplane on deice pad 4 were not fully pulled into their respective parking spots on the deice pad. N925NN passed behind N784SW and turned to enter to an adjacent deice pad, and its right winglet contacted the right elevator, horizontal stabilizer, and APU of the Southwest B737.
Factual narrative
On 17 February 2016, at about 0610 central daylight time, a B737-800, registration N925NN operated by American Airlines, contacted a Southwest Airlines B737-700, registration N784SW, that was stationary on a deice pad with engines stopped and was being deiced at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Detroit, MI. The American Airlines B737 was taxiing to an adjacent deice pad when it struck the Southwest Airlines B737. N925NN incurred damage to the right winglet, and N784SW sustained substantial damage to its right elevator, elevator tab, stabilizer leading edge, and APU exhaust. There were no injuries on either airplane, and both airplanes taxied back to gate to deplane passengers. Both airplanes were operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as regularly scheduled passenger flights. According to the Southwest flight crew, N784SW was stationary on the deice pad 3 with the engines shut down and was being deiced. According to the deice ground crew, N784SW and a United airplane on deice pad 4 were not fully pulled into their respective parking spots on the deice pad. N925NN passed behind N784SW and turned to enter to an adjacent deice pad, and its right winglet contacted the right elevator, horizontal stabilizer, and APU of the Southwest B737.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N925NN
- Reported as
- Boeing 737 (823)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31169
- Built
- 2013
- Airframe hours
- 9,518
- Engines
- Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24E, turbo fanCfm Intl CFM56-7B24E, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- American Airlines
- Registered owner
- Wilmington Trust Co Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · March 3, 2016
- Departed
- DTW · Detroit, MI
- Destination
- DFW · Dallas, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- DTW · Detroit Metropolitan Wayne Cou
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N784SW
- Reported as
- Boeing 737 7H4 (7H4)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 29810
- Built
- 2000
- Engines
- CFM Intl. CFM56 SERIES, 24,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanCFM Intl. CFM56 SERIES, 24,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Southwest Airlines
- Registered owner
- Southwest Airlines Co
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- DTW · Detroit, MI
- Destination
- DAL · Dallas, TX
- Airport
- DTW · Detroit Metropolitan Wayne Cou
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 4
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Check pilot, aircraft N925NN
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Last flight review
- July 23, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 10,449 total · 2,120 in this make and model
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N925NN
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Last flight review
- February 7, 2016
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 26 total · 15 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N784SW
- Age
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 13,650 total · 6,430 in this make and model · 11,792 as pilot in command · 106 in the last 90 days · 54 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N784SW
- Age
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 8,000 total · 5,400 in this make and model · 1,358 as pilot in command · 188 in the last 90 days · 58 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 2,998 °F
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.