Boeing 737-7H4 accident near Santa Clarita, California, February 13, 2010
On February 13, 2010 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Boeing 737-7H4, registered N221WN, was involved in an accident during approach (IFR initial approach) near Santa Clarita, California (Bob Hope airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 83 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s abrupt airplane pitch change maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew’s failure to maintain the heading specified by the air traffic controller, which would have avoided the near collision course with an unidentified airplane that triggered the traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2010 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Clarita, California · Bob Hope · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 83 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-7H4 · all 737-7H4s on the register
- Registration
- N221WN · registry record · serial 34259
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During descent to landing, the flight crew inadvertently turned about 27 degrees off their air traffic controller-assigned heading. When advised by the controller to check the airplane’s heading, the flight crew noted the heading discrepancy and immediately initiated a turn back to the assigned heading. During the turn, the flight crew received a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory (RA). The captain responded to the RA by initiating an estimated 1,500- to 2,000-foot-per-minute rate of descent followed by an approximate 2,000-foot-per-minute climb. During the RA response maneuvers, three flight attendants were standing in the aft galley, one of whom was seriously injured.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision avoidance alert during approach (IFR initial approach)
- Abrupt maneuver during approach (IFR initial approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Air traffic/operating proc › (general) › Compliance w/ procedure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,688 hours in all; 9,377 in this make and model; 218 in the last 90 days; 77 in the last 30 days; 11,413 as pilot in command; 798 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 28, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,505 hours in all; 1,730 in this make and model; 218 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 3,370 as pilot in command; 1,650 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 8, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,848 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 7, 2010
- Seats: 140
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 9:45 pm
- Destination: BUR Burbank CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 08, 5,802 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from BUR, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 80 |
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.