# NTSB DCA19CA130: Boeing 737, N249WN, Nashville, TN, March 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 27, 2019, 19:25 local (Mar 28, 2019, 00:25 UTC) - Place: Nashville, TN - Coordinates: 36.124443, -86.678054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1244&lon=-86.6781&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Status: Completed, report August 23, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 99199 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA19CA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99199/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99199 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19CA130 ## Probable cause a collision with a bird. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis On March 27, 2019 at 7:25pm central daylight time (EDT), a Boeing 737-700, N249WN, operated by Southwest Airlines as flight 975 struck a bird with the left horizontal stabilizer while descending through 2,500 feet on approach to the Berry-Nashville International Airport (KBNA), Nashville, Tennessee. The airplane landed at KBNA with no further incident. There were no injuries and the airplane was substantial damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 from the Pittsburgh International Airport (KPIT), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to KBNA. Damage to the airplane included a 12 inch crack in the forward spar, requiring replacement of the horizontal stabilizer. Bird residue was sent to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History laboratory, and identified as a Great Blue Heron. ## Factual narrative On March 27, 2019 at 7:25pm central daylight time (EDT), a Boeing 737-700, N249WN, operated by Southwest Airlines as flight 975 struck a bird with the left horizontal stabilizer while descending through 2,500 feet on approach to the Berry-Nashville International Airport (KBNA), Nashville, Tennessee. The airplane landed at KBNA with no further incident. There were no injuries and the airplane was substantial damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 from the Pittsburgh International Airport (KPIT), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to KBNA. Damage to the airplane included a 12 inch crack in the forward spar, requiring replacement of the horizontal stabilizer. Bird residue was sent to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History laboratory, and identified as a Great Blue Heron. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N249WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N249WN), registered now, S/N 34951, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737 (7H4) - Registry model: [Boeing 737-7H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7h4) (registry code 1384404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B24 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b24-series) (registry code 13044, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34951 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 44455 - Engines: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 10142 horsepower turbo fan; Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 10142 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Southwest Airlines - Registered owner: Southwest Airlines Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: February 19, 2019 - Departed: KPIT, Pittsburgh, PA - Destination: KBNA, Nashville, TN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KBNA, Nashville International Airpor - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Heads up display, Stall warning system, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 23,718 total, 15,630 in this make and model, 14,771 as pilot in command, 154 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 2.5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,988 total, 1,317 in this make and model, 1,128 as pilot in command, 161 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KBNA, 10 nm away ## 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 20190327000659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190327000659A), Mar 27, 2019: Boeing 737-7H4, Nashville, TN, Substantial damage. N249WN, B-737-7H4 operating as southwest airlines flight 975, pit to bna, stuck a bird during landing at bna. The bird strike caused substantial damage to the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99199. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.