Boeing 737-7H4 and Cessna 172M incident near Burbank, California, April 19, 2010
On April 19, 2010 at about 5:58 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-7H4 (N473WN) and Cessna 172M (N4415R), were involved in the same incident near Burbank, California (Bob Hope Airport). No one was hurt; 124 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper separation procedures by air traffic control.
The improper separation procedures by air traffic control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2010 · about 5:58 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Burbank, California · Bob Hope Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 124 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-7H4 · all 737-7H4s on the register
- Registration
- N473WN · registry record · serial 33832
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N4415R · registry record · serial 17263163
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737-7H4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Boeing 737 (B737) was landing on runway 8 and a Cessna 172 (C172) was operating in the local touch-and-go traffic pattern when the C172, in the departure phase of a touch and go on runway 15, flew through the intersection of runway 8 in front of the B737, which was on landing rollout. According to the local controller and the controller-in-charge, they did not see the situation develop between the C172 and B737 because another aircraft, which had just departed, distracted them, and their attention was focused on the radar display, not out the tower window.
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 Cessna 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Boeing 737 (B737) was landing on runway 8 and a Cessna 172 (C172) was operating in the local touch-and-go traffic pattern when the C172, in the departure phase of a touch and go on runway 15, flew through the intersection of runway 8 in front of the B737, which was on landing rollout. According to the local controller and the controller-in-charge, they did not see the situation develop between the C172 and B737 because another aircraft, which had just departed, distracted them, and their attention was focused on the radar display, not out the tower window.
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
- Air traffic event during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Expectation/assumption › ATC personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › ATC personnel
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
- Departed from: KOAK Oakland CA at 5:08 pm
- Destination: KBUR Burbank CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 08, 5,802 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KBUR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 119 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Air traffic event during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Expectation/assumption › ATC personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › ATC personnel
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBUR Burbank CA
- Destination: KVNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 15, 6,885 ft by 150 ft
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
- N473WN on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Boeing 737 2,896 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Boeing 6,678 aircraft on the register
- N4415R on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,683 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES 708 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES 708 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Hollywood Burbank Airport · nearest airport
- Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport · departed from
- Van Nuys Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,727 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/OPS10IA090.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.