Boeing 737-300 N602SW

Summary

On 21 August 1997 at about 18:05 local time, a Boeing 737-300 registered N602SW, operated by Soutwest Airlines Inc., was involved in an incident near Tampa, Florida, United States. 76 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

21 August 1997 at 18:05

Classification

Incident

Location

Tampa, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tampa International (TPA)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Boeing 737-300

Registration

N602SW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Soutwest Airlines Inc.

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ft Lauderdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97IA237

2 people had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While descending into Tampa at an altitude of 4,000 feet mean sea level (msl), the flight struck a 'large bird.' The FO's No. 1 window shattered both panes of the windshield, sending glass into the cockpit, and into the forward galley. The flight landed without further incident. The Captain and FO were taken to the hospital to have glass removed. According to the pilot's statement they saw other birds before the bird strike, and they described the birds that they had seen with wing spans of '4 feet.' At the time of the bird strike, windshield heat was available and 'ON.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.