# NTSB DCA18CA169: Boeing 737-8H4, N8655D, Baltimore, MD, May 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 7, 2018, 00:08 local (04:08 UTC) - Place: Baltimore, MD - Coordinates: 39.179164, -76.667221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1792&lon=-76.6672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 181 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Lead agency: Other - NTSB case key (mKey): 97175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18CA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97175/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97175 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA169 ## Probable cause The maintenance truck driver's failure to give way to the airplane that resulted in the truck colliding with the taxiing aircraft. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis On May 7, 2018, at approximately 0010 am eastern daylight time, Southwest Airlines flight 6263, a B737-800, N8655D, was struck by a Southwest Airlines maintenance truck as the aircraft was being marshaled into its gate at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (KBWI), Baltimore, Maryland. There were no injuries to the 181 passengers and crewmembers onboard and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to KBWI. According to the flight crew, they had cleared the safety zone prior to joining the J-line. According to ground witnesses, the maintenance vehicle appeared to initially slow down for the airplane, but then appeared to increase its speed to pass in front of the airplane before it could enter the gate. The airplane sustained damage to the left and right nose landing gear doors, nose landing gear trunnion fittings, and to the left-hand forward fuselage skin and stringers. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2018, at approximately 0010 am eastern daylight time, Southwest Airlines flight 6263, a B737-800, N8655D, was struck by a Southwest Airlines maintenance truck as the aircraft was being marshaled into its gate at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (KBWI), Baltimore, Maryland. There were no injuries to the 179 passengers and crewmembers onboard and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to KBWI. According to the flight crew, they had cleared the safety zone prior to joining the J-line. According to ground witnesses, the maintenance vehicle appeared to initially slow down for the airplane, but then appeared to increase its speed to pass in front of the airplane before it could enter the gate. The airplane sustained damage to the left and right nose landing gear doors, nose landing gear trunnion fittings, and to the left-hand forward fuselage skin and stringers. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8655D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8655D), registered now, S/N 42529, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 737-8H4 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Boeing 737-8H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8h4) (registry code 138440A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B27E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b27e-series) (registry code 13078, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 42529 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 12466 - Engines: CFM International CFM56-7BE/F 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM International CFM56-7BE/F 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Southwest Airlines Co - Registered owner: Southwest Airlines Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 6, 2018 - Departed: KFLL, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Destination: KBWI, Baltimore, MD - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KBWI, Baltimore/Thurgood Marshall In - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,232 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 367 in this make and model - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: rear - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point - Cabin crew; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KBWI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180507013309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180507013309A), May 7, 2018: Boeing 737-8H4, Baltimore, MD, Substantial damage. On may 07, 2018, at approximately 0010 EST, swa N8655D, a Boeing 737-800, flight # 6263 fll-bwi, with 177 passengers and crew landed at bwi. The PIC [privacy… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97175. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465823&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Employee Statements (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465824&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Employee%20Statements-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.