- Date
- May 21, 2021, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 214 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi: Ground collisionTaxi-to runway: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Parties
- Boeing, FAA, SWA
- FAA reports
- 20210521004232A20210521004242A
- Case key
- 103134
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
the failure of the flight crew of N8686A to provide sufficient clearance while taxiing past N289CT, which was stopped.
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.
N289CT · Boeing 737-7H4
N8686A · Boeing 737-8H4
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.
N289CT · Boeing 737-7H4
N8686A · Boeing 737-8H4
Analysis
On May 21, 2021, at about 1230 central daylight time, two Southwest B737’s collided while taxiing near the gate area at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), Chicago, Illinois. There were no injuries to the passengers and crew onboard either airplane. One airplane was substantially damaged and the other received minor damage. According to the operator, after landing, N289CT taxied to the assigned gate B-15 and was awaiting the ground marshalling crew. The flight crew of N289CT reported that they positioned the airplane on the J-line leading to the gate parking spot and set the brake while awaiting the ground crew. The marshallers arrived and began to signal the crew into the gate. Shortly after releasing the parking brake, the flight crew reported feeling the airplane shudder. The captain looked out the left window and noticed the N8686A taxiing behind with damage to its right winglet. N289CT then proceeded to the gate and deplaned with no further incident. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to both elevators. N8686A was cleared to taxi from gate B14 to runway 22L via taxiways T and Y. While taxiing NE on taxiway Y, the aircraft's right winglet struck the aft portion of N289CT's horizontal stabilizer. N8686A taxied back to the gate. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed minor damage to the right winglet.
Factual narrative
According to the operator of both airplanes; N289CT taxied to the assigned gate B-15 and was awaiting the ground marshalling crew. The flight crew of N289CT reported that they positioned the airplane on the J-line leading to the gate parking spot and set the brake while awaiting the ground crew. The marshallers arrived and began to signal the crew into the gate. Shortly after releasing the parking brake, the flight crew reported feeling the airplane shudder and stopped moving. The flight crew noticed the other aircraft taxiing behind with damage to the right wingtip. They then proceeded to the gate and deplaned with no further incident. Inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to both elevators. N8686A was cleared to taxi from gate B14 to Runway 22L via taxiways T and Y. While taxiing NE on taxiway Y, the aircraft's right wingtip struck the aft portion of N289CT's horizontal stabilizer.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N289CT
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-7H4 (700)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36633
- Built
- 2007
- Engines
- CFM Intl CFM56-7B24, 24,200 lbs thrust, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-7B24, 24,200 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Southwest Airlines Co
- Registered owner
- Southwest Airlines Co
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- KIAD · Washington, DC
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- KMDW · Midway
- Equipment
- Data recorder
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
- N8686A
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-8H4 (800)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36938
- Built
- 2016
- Airframe hours
- 17,191
- Engines
- CFM Intl CFM56-7B27E/F, 27,300 lbs thrust, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-7B27E/F, 27,300 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Southwest Airlines Co
- Registered owner
- Southwest Airlines Co
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · May 18, 2021
- Destination
- KBHM · Birmingham, AL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder
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
- Pilot, aircraft N289CT
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 25,000 total · 22,000 in this make and model · 20,000 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N289CT
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 6,300 total · 3,274 in this make and model · 5,300 as pilot in command · 213 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N8686A
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 20, 2020
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 18,485 total · 4,050 in this make and model · 13,000 as pilot in command · 171 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft N8686A
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 5, 2020
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 7,564 total · 2,606 in this make and model · 1,400 as pilot in command · 154 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.34 inHg
- Observed at
- KMDW
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 6, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.2 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.