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Accidents · NTSB OPS10IA132 · Final report

Boeing 737-7H4 and Bell 407 incident near Houston, Texas, April 28, 2010

On April 28, 2010 at about 5:25 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-7H4 (N242WN) and Bell 407 (N6YJ), were involved in the same incident near Houston, Texas (William P. Hobby Airport). No one was hurt; 140 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The failure of the local controller to issue control instructions necessary to ensure positive control/standard separation of traffic operating within the Class B airspace.
The failure of the local controller to issue control instructions necessary to ensure positive control/standard separation of traffic operating within the Class B airspace.

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

What the record shows

Date
April 28, 2010 · about 5:25 pm local time · cases in 2010
Place
Houston, Texas · William P. Hobby Airport · cases near this airport · map
Type
Incident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 140 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft 1
Boeing 737-7H4 · all 737-7H4s on the register
Registration
N242WN · registry record · serial 32505
Damage
Not recorded
Flight
Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
Aircraft 2
Bell 407 · all 407s on the register
Registration
N6YJ · registry record · serial 53066
Damage
Not recorded
Flight
Aerial observation 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 departing from runway 12R and a Bell 207 was departing from the south helipad on a northbound departure route, when the aircraft came within approximately 125 feet vertically and 100 feet laterally at the departure end of runway 12R. The air traffic control tower controller did not issue traffic advisories to the B737 or the Bell 207. The incident occurred during daytime visual meteorological conditions.

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 Bell 407 final · quoted from the NTSB record

A Boeing 737 (B737) was departing from runway 12R and a Bell 207 was departing from the south helipad on a northbound departure route, when the aircraft came within approximately 125 feet vertically and 100 feet laterally at the departure end of runway 12R. The air traffic control tower controller did not issue traffic advisories to the B737 or the Bell 207. The incident occurred during daytime visual meteorological conditions.

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

  1. Air traffic event during takeoff defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › (general) › (general) › ATC personnel

The aircraft

  • Seats: 140
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Southwest Airlines CO

The flight

  • Departed from: HOU Houston TX
  • Destination: BWI Baltimore MD
  • Flight plan: not recorded
  • Runway 12R, 7,602 ft by 150 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 8,000 ft
  • Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
  • Observation at 4:53 pm from HOU

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Cabi3
Flight crew2
Passengers135

The factual record for the Bell 407 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Air traffic event during initial climb defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › (general) › (general) › ATC personnel

The aircraft

  • Seats: 7
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Rolls-Royc 250-C47B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Helicopters INC

The flight

  • Departed from: HOU Houston TX
  • Destination: HOU Houston TX
  • Flight plan: not recorded
  • Runway 12R, 7,602 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

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/OPS10IA132.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.