Accident Boeing 737-3H4 N387SW, Monday 13 July 2009

Date:	Monday 13 July 2009
Time:	18:07
Type:	Boeing 737-3H4
Owner/operator:	Southwest Airlines
Registration:	N387SW
MSN:	26602/2627
Year of manufacture:	1994
Total airframe hrs:	50500 hours
Cycles:	42500 flights
Engine model:	CFMI CFM56-3B1
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 131
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, repaired
Category:	Accident
Location:	near Charleston, WV - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Nashville International Airport, TN (BNA/KBNA)
Destination airport:	Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, MD (BWI/KBWI)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Southwest flight 2294, a Boeing 737-300 experienced rapid decompression while en route from Nashville Metropolitan Airport, TN (BNA) to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). The crew declared an emergency and landed at Charleston-Yeager Airport, WV (CRW). On examination, a hole measuring approximately 17 inches by 8 inches (43 x 20 cm) was discovered in the top of the fuselage. There were no injuries reported.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "Fuselage skin failure due to preexisting fatigue at a chemically milled step."

Accident investigation: