Narrative:
Southwest Airlines flight 5246, a Boeing 737-700, struck a bird while descending to Kansas City International Airport, Missouri. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
According to the flight crew, the airplane was on the downwind leg for arrival on runway 19R at KMCI. As the airplane was descending through 10,000 feet-msl altitude, the flight crew noticed a white object go through the landing lights and heard a loud bang from the from fuselage below their feet. The flight crew checked engine parameters for any anomalies and the airplane for any damage, and none was found. The flight landed uneventfully, and post flight inspection of the airplane revealed evidence of a bird strike and dents in the lower right fuselage skin. Further inspection revealed two internal frames were bent and fractured.
Probable Cause: "A bird strike during descent"
Normal landing
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 21 December 2019 |
| Time: | 20:19 |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-7BD (WL) |
| Operator: | Southwest Airlines |
| Registration: | N7739A |
| MSN: | 35110/2147 |
| First flight: | 2006-12-17 (13 years ) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 45252 |
| Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-7B24 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 136 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 141 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | near Kansas City International Airport, MO (MCI) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Washington-Ronald Reagan National Airport, DC (DCA/KDCA), United States of America |
| Kansas City International Airport, MO (MCI/KMCI), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | WN5246 |
Southwest Airlines flight 5246, a Boeing 737-700, struck a bird while descending to Kansas City International Airport, Missouri. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
According to the flight crew, the airplane was on the downwind leg for arrival on runway 19R at KMCI. As the airplane was descending through 10,000 feet-msl altitude, the flight crew noticed a white object go through the landing lights and heard a loud bang from the from fuselage below their feet. The flight crew checked engine parameters for any anomalies and the airplane for any damage, and none was found. The flight landed uneventfully, and post flight inspection of the airplane revealed evidence of a bird strike and dents in the lower right fuselage skin. Further inspection revealed two internal frames were bent and fractured.
Probable Cause:
Probable Cause: "A bird strike during descent"
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Bird strikeNormal landing
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 Washington-Ronald Reagan National Airport, DC to Kansas City International Airport, MO as the crow flies is 1514 km (946 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Washington-Ronald Reagan National Airport, DC to Kansas City International Airport, MO as the crow flies is 1514 km (946 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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