Boeing 737-7H4 and Boeing 737-3H4 accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 18, 2010
On December 18, 2010 at about 4:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-7H4 (N913WN) and Boeing 737-3H4 (N650SW), were involved in the same accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia airport). No one was hurt; 222 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the ground operations personnel to maintain awareness of the relative position of the two airplanes.
the failure of the ground operations personnel to maintain awareness of the relative position of the two airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 2010 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Philadelphia · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 222 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-7H4 · all 737-7H4s on the register
- Registration
- N913WN · registry record · serial 29840
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 737-3H4 · all 737-3H4s on the register
- Registration
- N650SW · no longer on the register · serial 27720
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737-7H4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 18, 2010, at 1100 eastern standard time, a Boeing 737-700, registration number N913WN, operated by Southwest Airlines as flight 2592 to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, collided with a Boeing 737-300, registration number N650SW, operated by Southwest Airlines as flight 3944 to Tampa, Florida, during pushback from the gate at Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer of N913WN contacted the right winglet and horizontal stabilizer of N650SW. N650SW had been previously pushed back and awaiting taxi clearance at the time of the incident. The tug operator reported he looked away at an uninvolved airplane and when he looked back, the wing walker was signalling him to stop, but he was unable to stop prior to impact. N913WN was substantially damaged due to the impact to the wing spar. N650SW had minor damage. There were no injuries to the 10 total crew members, 215 total passengers, and 2 ground operations personnel.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737-3H4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 18, 2010, at 1100 eastern standard time, a Boeing 737-700, registration number N913WN, operated by Southwest Airlines as flight 2592 to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, collided with a Boeing 737-300, registration number N650SW, operated by Southwest Airlines as flight 3944 to Tampa, Florida, during pushback from the gate at Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer of N913WN contacted the right winglet and horizontal stabilizer of N650SW. N650SW had been previously pushed back and awaiting taxi clearance at the time of the incident. The tug operator reported he looked away at an uninvolved airplane and when he looked back, the wing walker was signalling him to stop, but he was unable to stop prior to impact. N913WN was substantially damaged due to the impact to the wing spar. N650SW had minor damage. There were no injuries to the 10 total crew members, 215 total passengers, and 2 ground operations personnel.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Boeing 737-7H4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground handling event during pushback/towing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,106 hours in all; 7,800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 15, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,620 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 15, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,987 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 18, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 155,000 lb
- Seats: 140
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KPHL Philadelphia PA
- Destination: KFLL Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 115 |
The factual record for the Boeing 737-3H4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground handling event during pushback/towing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 9,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,586 hours in all; 4,086 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 44,479 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 18, 2010
- Seats: 149
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KPHL Philadelphia PA
- Destination: KTPA Tampa FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 97 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N913WN the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
2013-05-10WPR13IA226 · incident near Phoenix, AZ · minor damage · no injuries
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.