BOEING 737-8H4

Baltimore, MD — May 7, 2018

Event Information

DateMay 7, 2018
Event TypeACC
NTSB NumberDCA18CA169
Event ID20180507X00658
LocationBaltimore, MD
CountryUSA
Coordinates39.17916, -76.66722
AirportBaltimore/Thurgood Marshall In
Highest InjuryNONE

Aircraft

MakeBOEING
Model737-8H4
CategoryAIR
FAR Part121
Aircraft DamageSUBS

Conditions

Light ConditionNITE
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
None181
Total Injured0

Probable Cause

The maintenance truck driver's failure to give way to the airplane that resulted in the truck colliding with the taxiing aircraft.

Full Narrative

On May 7, 2018, at approximately 0010 am eastern daylight time, Southwest Airlines flight 6263, a B737-800, N8655D, was struck by a Southwest Airlines maintenance truck as the aircraft was being marshaled into its gate at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (KBWI), Baltimore, Maryland. There were no injuries to the 179 passengers and crewmembers onboard and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to KBWI.

According to the flight crew, they had cleared the safety zone prior to joining the J-line. According to ground witnesses, the maintenance vehicle appeared to initially slow down for the airplane, but then appeared to increase its speed to pass in front of the airplane before it could enter the gate. The airplane sustained damage to the left and right nose landing gear doors, nose landing gear trunnion fittings, and to the left-hand forward fuselage skin and stringers.

About This NTSB Record

This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

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