Boeing 737-7H4 and Boeing 737-3H4 incident near Dallas, Texas, March 1, 2008
On March 1, 2008 at about 4:12 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-7H4 (N741SA) and Boeing 737-3H4 (N652SW), were involved in the same incident near Dallas, Texas (Dallas Love Field). No one was hurt; 244 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the taxiing flight crew to maintain an adequate clearance from the stationary airplane.
The failure of the taxiing flight crew to maintain an adequate clearance from the stationary airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2008 · about 4:12 pm local time
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · Dallas Love Field · map
- Type
- Incident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 244 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-7H4 · all 737-7H4s on the register
- Registration
- N741SA · no longer on the register · serial 29277
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 737-3H4 · all 737-3H4s on the register
- Registration
- N652SW · no longer on the register · serial 27722
- 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
The airplane was taxiing to a terminal gate utilizing the taxiway centerline as it passed a stationary airplane that had completed a "pushback" from a terminal gate. The taxiing airline transport pilot perceived the distance between the two airplanes adequate to continue to the terminal gate, however, the left winglet from the taxiing airplane struck the right horizontal stabilizer of the stationary airplane. The top portion of the winglet sheared off, and imbedded itself in the horizontal stabilizer of the stationary airplane resulting in minor damage to both airplanes.
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
The airplane was taxiing to a terminal gate utilizing the taxiway centerline as it passed a stationary airplane that had completed a "pushback" from a terminal gate. The taxiing airline transport pilot perceived the distance between the two airplanes adequate to continue to the terminal gate, however, the left winglet from the taxiing airplane struck the right horizontal stabilizer of the stationary airplane. The top portion of the winglet sheared off, and imbedded itself in the horizontal stabilizer of the stationary airplane resulting in minor damage to both airplanes.
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 (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Perception › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,000 hours in all; 14,500 in this make and model; 221 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 18,000 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 2, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,090 hours in all; 4,920 in this make and model; 238 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 2,610 as pilot in command; 2,345 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 16, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 34,448 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 29, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 154,500 lb
- Seats: 145
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM-56-7 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM-56-7 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: BHM Birmingham AL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; ovct at 500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KDAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 102 |
The factual record for the Boeing 737-3H4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Perception › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,250 hours in all; 10,980 in this make and model; 249 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 10,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 26, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,800 hours in all; 4,200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 31, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 35,837 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 25, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 136,000 lb
- Seats: 145
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM-56-3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM-56-3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: DAL Dallas TX
- Destination: HOU Houston TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 132 |
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.
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.