Boeing 737 7H4 N263WN and Boeing 737-8H4 N8314L accident near Dallas, Texas

Probable cause

N263WN captain's failure to maintain a safe clearance from the parked N8314L resulting in a ground collision.

NTSB analysis

On November 20, 2014, about 2000 central standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 8751, a Boeing 737-700, registration N263WN, collided with Southwest Airlines flight 301, a Boeing 737-800. N263WN was a functional check flight operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with two flight crew members onboard. N8314L was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121with 177 passengers and crew members onboard. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane.

According to flight crew statements, N8314L had landed on runway 13L and was holding on taxi lane P, with parking brakes set, because gate 14 was occupied.

N263WN pushed off from gate 3 and was cleared to taxi to runway 13L via taxiway B. As the flight approached taxi lane P, the first officer stated "watch the 800." The captain steered the airplane to the right of centerline of taxiway B, and believed his wingtip was clear of the left-hand horizontal stabilizer of N8314L. The captain said he then shifted his attention back to the airplane's taxi path to avoid over-correcting to the right of centerline; however, their left hand wingtip struck the parked N8314L's right hand horizontal stabilizer. N263WN's left hand wingtip received minor damage and N8314L's right hand horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA15CA025 for the full record.