# NTSB DCA22LA201: Boeing 737-7H4, N963WN, Chicago, IL, September 11, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 11, 2022, 15:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Coordinates: 41.9803, -87.909
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9803&lon=-87.9090&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Standing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 322 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: Southwest Airlines, American Airlines
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105950
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA201
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105950/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105950
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA201

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

Southwest Airlines flight crew’s misjudgment of the distance required to safely pass the American Airlines airplane.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment, aircraft 2; cases with it: [Boeing 737-823, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=13844CB), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Boeing 737-823, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md?model=13844CB), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/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), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Standing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Boeing 737-823, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=13844CB), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

After landing on runway 27R at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Southwest Airlines B737 flight 2659 (SWA2659) was cleared by ground control to taxi to gate M-14 via taxiways Z, D, TT, A, A-19. As they proceeded down taxiway A, both pilots observed an American Airlines B737 (AA1121) holding short of taxiway A-19. The pilots of SWA2659 asked ground control for permission to utilize taxiway A-20 instead and were granted permission. The captain said that as he tried to pass AA1121, he stayed left of centerline to ensure wingtip clearance. The first officer was looking out the window and informed the captain that their airplane’s wingtip was clear. However, their right winglet impacted the left elevator of AA1121. AA1121 was stationary on taxiway A and holding short of taxiway A-19 with the parking brake set, awaiting entry to gate K-20, when it was impacted by SWA2659. Figure 1. Depiction of SWA2659 taxi route and area of occurrence (Adapted from Google Earth) Post-event examination of both airplanes revealed that the right winglet of SWA2659 was damaged and sheared off by the impact and the left elevator of AA1121 was substantially damaged.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N963WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N963WN), registered now, S/N 36676, built 2011 (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: 36676
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 36032
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 24200 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 24200 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, September 4, 2022
- Departed: KDEN, Denver, CO
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KORD, Chicago O'Hare International
- Equipment: Heads up display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N909NN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N909NN), registered now, S/N 31159, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-823
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-823](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-823) (registry code 13844CB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B24E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b24e-series) (registry code 13804, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31159
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 29368
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines Inc, doing business as American Airlines
- Registered owner: Bank Of Utah Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 7, 2022
- Departed: KMCO, Orlando, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N963WN; age 62; injuries: none; private, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 25,749 total, 15,983 in this make and model, 13,997 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot, aircraft N963WN; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor, private, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,573 total, 167 in this make and model, 7,280 as pilot in command, 167 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N909NN; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 10, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 21,000 total, 6,248 in this make and model, 6,190 as pilot in command
- Co-pilot, aircraft N909NN; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 11, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,000 total, 1,874 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105950. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - swa 2659 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14988994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA201%20-%206120_SWA2659_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - aa 1121 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14990209&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AA1121-11SEP22%20NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements - swa flight crew (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14990581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SWA%202659%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements - aa flight crew (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14990735&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Statement%20for%20AAL%201121-Rel.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.

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