Boeing 737 7H4 and Boeing 737-8H4 accident near Dallas, Texas, November 21, 2014
On November 21, 2014 at about 2:00 am local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737 7H4 (N263WN) and Boeing 737-8H4 (N8314L), were involved in the same accident near Dallas, Texas (Dallas airport). No one was hurt; 179 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
N263WN captain's failure to maintain a safe clearance from the parked N8314L resulting in a ground collision.
N263WN captain's failure to maintain a safe clearance from the parked N8314L resulting in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 2014 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · Dallas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 179 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737 7H4 7H4, built 2007 · all 737 7H4s on the register
- Registration
- N263WN · registry record · serial 32520
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 737-8H4 8H4, built 2012 · all 737-8H4s on the register
- Registration
- N8314L · registry record · serial 36990
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737 7H4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 20, 2014, about 2000 central standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 8751, a Boeing 737-700, registration N263WN, collided with Southwest Airlines flight 301, a Boeing 737-800. N263WN was a functional check flight operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with two flight crew members onboard. N8314L was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121with 177 passengers and crew members onboard. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane. According to flight crew statements, N8314L had landed on runway 13L and was holding on taxi lane P, with parking brakes set, because gate 14 was occupied. N263WN pushed off from gate 3 and was cleared to taxi to runway 13L via taxiway B. As the flight approached taxi lane P, the first officer stated "watch the 800." The captain steered the airplane to the right of centerline of taxiway B, and believed his wingtip was clear of the left-hand horizontal stabilizer of N8314L. The captain said he then shifted his attention back to the airplane's taxi path to avoid over-correcting to the right of centerline; however, their left hand wingtip struck the parked N8314L's right hand horizontal stabilizer. N263WN's left hand wingtip received minor damage and N8314L's right hand horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged.
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 737-8H4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 20, 2014, about 2000 central standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 8751, a Boeing 737-700, registration N263WN, collided with Southwest Airlines flight 301, a Boeing 737-800. N263WN was a functional check flight operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with two flight crew members onboard. N8314L was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121with 177 passengers and crew members onboard. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane. According to flight crew statements, N8314L had landed on runway 13L and was holding on taxi lane P, with parking brakes set, because gate 14 was occupied. N263WN pushed off from gate 3 and was cleared to taxi to runway 13L via taxiway B. As the flight approached taxi lane P, the first officer stated "watch the 800." The captain steered the airplane to the right of centerline of taxiway B, and believed his wingtip was clear of the left-hand horizontal stabilizer of N8314L. The captain said he then shifted his attention back to the airplane's taxi path to avoid over-correcting to the right of centerline; however, their left hand wingtip struck the parked N8314L's right hand horizontal stabilizer. N263WN's left hand wingtip received minor damage and N8314L's right hand horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged.
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 collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: powered-lift
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 19,000 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 10, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,894 hours in all; 342 in this make and model; 188 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 6,569 as pilot in command; 209 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28,010 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 19, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 154,500 lb
- Seats: 151
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 35,968 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 28,044 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: DAL Dallas TX
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 160° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 1:16 am from DAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Boeing 737-8H4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all; 3,708 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 9,796 as pilot in command; 1,110 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 10, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,175 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,803 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 18, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 174,200 lb
- Seats: 184
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 8,803 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 8,803 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: MDW Chicago IL at 11:44 pm
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 175 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.