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Accidents · NTSB OPS10IA015 · Final report

Cessna 208B and Boeing 737-7H4 incident near Phoenix, Arizona, March 20, 2010

On March 20, 2010 at about 1:28 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 208B (N992FE) and Boeing 737-7H4 (N742SW), were involved in the same incident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor airport). The NTSB record does not give the injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The Cessna 208 pilot’s failure to identify the correct landing runway.
The Cessna 208 pilot’s failure to identify the correct landing runway.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
March 20, 2010 · about 1:28 am local time · cases in 2010
Place
Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Sky Harbor · cases near this airport · map
Type
Incident
Injuries
The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft 1
Cessna 208B · all 208Bs on the register
Registration
N992FE · registry record · serial 208B0128
Damage
Not recorded
Flight
Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
Aircraft 2
Boeing 737-7H4 · all 737-7H4s on the register
Registration
N742SW · no longer on the register · serial 29278
Damage
Not recorded
Flight
Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)

The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 208B final · quoted from the NTSB record

While holding in position after being issued a takeoff clearance, the Boeing 737 captain noticed the Cessna 208 overflying his position and landing in front of him on runway 25R. The Cessna pilot was given clearance to land on runway 25L but instead landed on runway 25R, missing the 737 by about 50 feet. The pilot of the Cessna 208 noted having difficulty seeing the runway due to the setting sun beyond the departure end of runway 25R. Furthermore, he did not state whether or not he was able to make visual contact on final approach with the Boeing 737 that was holding in position in front of him on the runway.

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 737-7H4 final · quoted from the NTSB record

While holding in position after being issued a takeoff clearance, the Boeing 737 captain noticed the Cessna 208 overflying his position and landing in front of him on runway 25R. The Cessna pilot was given clearance to land on runway 25L but instead landed on runway 25R, missing the 737 by about 50 feet. The pilot of the Cessna 208 noted having difficulty seeing the runway due to the setting sun beyond the departure end of runway 25R. Furthermore, he did not state whether or not he was able to make visual contact on final approach with the Boeing 737 that was holding in position in front of him on the runway.

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 Cessna 208B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Abrupt maneuver during landing (flare/touchdown)
  2. Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot

The aircraft

  • Seats: 12
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: P&W PT6A SERIES (turboprop); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ
  • Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • Runway 25R
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

The factual record for the Boeing 737-7H4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Attempted remediation/recovery during taxi (into takeoff position)
  2. Airport occurrence during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot of other aircraft

The aircraft

  • Seats: 140
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Southwest Airlines

The flight

  • Runway 25R
  • A second pilot was aboard

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/OPS10IA015.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.