Boeing 737-7H4 and Boeing 737-3H4 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, October 13, 2005
On October 13, 2005 at about 3:18 am local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-7H4 (N755SA) and Boeing 737-3H4 (N624SW), were involved in the same accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl airport). No one was hurt; 137 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the flight crew to maintain an adequate clearance from a stationary Boeing 737.
The failure of the other flight crew to maintain an adequate clearance from obstructions while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2005 · about 3:18 am local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 137 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-7H4 · all 737-7H4s on the register
- Registration
- N755SA · no longer on the register · serial 27871
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 737-3H4 · all 737-3H4s on the register
- Registration
- N624SW · no longer on the register · serial 27934
- 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
While taxiing to park the left winglet of flight 1097 (N755SW) struck and became embedded in the right horizontal stabilizer of a company Boeing 737 (N624SW), operating as flight 2080. Flight 2080 was holding short of the active runway waiting to depart when the ground collision occurred. After landing, the crew of flight 1097 was cleared by the local ground controller to taxi to a holding area short of the flight's assigned gate and await further clearance to taxi to the gate for parking. During the taxi, flight 1097 taxied behind the parked flight 2080. The captain of flight 1097 believed there was enough clearance between his airplane and flight 2080; however, the left winglet struck the right horizontal stabilizer. The area where the collision occurred is in a designated non-visibility area for the air traffic control tower and is considered a non-movement area where the responsibility for maintaining separation and clearance from other aircraft lies entirely with the flight crew.
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
While taxiing to park the left winglet of a company Boeing 737, operating as flight 1097 (N755SW), struck and became embedded in the right horizontal stabilizer of a Boeing 737 (N624SW), operating as flight 2080. Flight 2080 was holding short of the active runway waiting to depart when the ground collision occurred. After landing, the crew of flight 1097 was cleared by the local ground controller to taxi to a holding area short of the flight's assigned gate and await further clearance to taxi to the gate for parking. During taxi, flight 1097 taxied behind the parked flight 2080. The captain of flight 1097 believed there was enough clearance between his airplane and flight 2080; however, the left winglet struck the right horizontal stabilizer. The area where the collision occurred is in a designated non-visibility area for the air traffic control tower and is considered a non-movement area where the responsibility for maintaining separation and clearance from other aircraft lies entirely with the flight crew.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,390 hours in all; 11,100 in this make and model; 233 in the last 90 days; 94 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 154,500 lb
- Seats: 145
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CFM-56 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CFM-56 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 1:58 am
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from PHX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 71 |
The factual record for the Boeing 737-3H4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,300 hours in all; 16,000 in this make and model; 203 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 139,000 lb
- Seats: 145
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CFM-56 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CFM-56 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 56 |
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.