Narrative:
Southwest Airlines flight 975 struck a bird with the left horizontal stabilizer while descending through 2,500 feet on approach to the Nashville International Airport, Tennessee, USA. The airplane landed with no further incident. There were no injuries and the airplane was substantial damaged.
Damage to the airplane included a 12 inch crack in the forward spar, requiring replacement of the horizontal stabilizer. Bird residue was identified as a Great Blue Heron.
Probable cause: a collision with a bird.
Forced landing on runway
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 27 March 2019 |
| Time: | 19:25 |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-7H4 (WL) |
| Operator: | Southwest Airlines |
| Registration: | N249WN |
| MSN: | 34951/2005 |
| First flight: | 2006-07-17 (12 years 9 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 44455 |
| Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-7B24 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | near Nashville International Airport, TN (BNA) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh International Airport, PA (PIT/KPIT), United States of America |
| Nashville International Airport, TN (BNA/KBNA), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | WN975 |
Southwest Airlines flight 975 struck a bird with the left horizontal stabilizer while descending through 2,500 feet on approach to the Nashville International Airport, Tennessee, USA. The airplane landed with no further incident. There were no injuries and the airplane was substantial damaged.
Damage to the airplane included a 12 inch crack in the forward spar, requiring replacement of the horizontal stabilizer. Bird residue was identified as a Great Blue Heron.
Probable Cause:
Probable cause: a collision with a bird.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Bird strikeForced landing on runway
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh International Airport, PA to Nashville International Airport, TN as the crow flies is 738 km (461 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh International Airport, PA to Nashville International Airport, TN as the crow flies is 738 km (461 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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