# NTSB DCA24LA051: Boeing 737, N8514F, St. Louis, MO, December 19, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 19, 2023, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO · Per 6120
- Coordinates: 38.747222, -90.361389 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7472&lon=-90.3614&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 107 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: FAA/AVP110
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193561
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA24LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193561/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193561
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA051

## Probable cause

A bird strike during climbout.

## 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 737-800, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1384414), [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.

- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-800, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1384414), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Southwest Airlines flight 2217 struck a bird while climbing though 6,000 ft. after departure from the St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), St. Louis, Missouri. According to the flight crew, during the climb they saw a “quick flash” pass diagonally from right to left across the nose of the airplane, followed by a “thud” sound. Which they surmised was a bird that had impacted the nose or belly area of the airplane. After confirming that the flight controls, engines, and pressurization system were operating normally, they decided to continue to their destination. They advised the company of a possible bird strike via an aircraft communicating and reporting system (ACARS) message to coordinate with maintenance for an inspection and damage assessment upon landing. The flight continued normally with no change in the performance or operation of the airplane and landed without further incident. After landing the crew performed a post-flight walk around to search for any evidence of a bird strike, when they discovered impact damage to the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer (see figure 1). Maintenance personnel subsequently discovered a crack, about 12 inches long, in the left horizonal stabilizer lower spar chord. Although the bird impact caused substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, the flight crew was able to control the airplane and the captain reported that “the flight controls and everything felt normal”. Figure 1 – Photo of the left horizontal stabilizer leading edge showing the location of the bird impact. (Source: Southwest Airlines) A review of pilot reports near the time and location of the event revealed that no prior information about bird activity had been reported.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8514F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8514F), registered now, S/N 36975, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737 (800)
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-800](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-800) (registry code 1384414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B27E/F series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b27e-f-series) (registry code 13100, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 36975
- Year built: 2016
- Airframe hours: 23092
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B27E/F 27300 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B27E/F 27300 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, December 13, 2023
- Destination: MDW, Chicago, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 21,561 total, 9,460 in this make and model, 3,304 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days
- Co-pilot; age 26; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,923 total, 222 in this make and model, 1,012 as pilot in command, 222 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 24,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: KSTL
- METAR: KSTL 192251Z 14009KT 10SM BKN240 04/M08 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP253 T00441078

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193561. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16552575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20SWA2217%20N8514%20Bird%20Strike%206120_print_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Crew statements (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16552585&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20SWA%202217%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16685893&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_DCA24LA051-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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