Boeing 737-2H4 accident near Dallas, Texas, January 27, 1995
On January 27, 1995 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Boeing 737-2H4, registered N71SW, was involved in an accident near Dallas, Texas (Dallas Love Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 124 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS' LACK OF SUPERVISION OF DEPLANING PASSENGERS. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF SUPERVISION BY ACCIDENT VICTIMS MOTHER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 1995 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · Dallas Love Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 124 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-2H4 · all 737-2H4s on the register
- Registration
- N71SW · no longer on the register · serial 22358
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DEPLANING PASSENGERS, A FOUR-YEAR-OLD BOY EXITED THROUGH THE GALLEY SERVICING DOOR AND FELL THROUGH A NINE INCH GAP BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE AND THE CATERING TRUCK. THE BOY'S MOTHER HAD HER ARMS LOADED WITH ANOTHER CHILD, A CARRY-ON BAG, A DIAPER BAG, AND HER PURSE. THREE OF THE CREW MEMBERS WERE HELPING HER WHEN THE CHILD FELL.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,350 hours in all; 5,800 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 100,800 lb
- Seats: 124
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-9(A) (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from DFW, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 119 |
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.