Description

On 15 December 2015, a Boeing 737-300 (N649SW) being operated by Southwest Airlines on a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Houston Hobby to Nashville as SWA31 left the intended taxi route onto adjacent grass during its taxi in at destination in normal ground visibility at night. The nose landing gear collapsed with consequent structural damage and there was additional minor damage to other parts of the aircraft. Nine of the 138 occupants sustained minor injuries during the subsequent evacuation.

Investigation An Investigation was carried out by the NTSB. Relevant information was extracted from the solid state FDR and solid state 2 hour CVR. Recorded video surveillance footage of use to the Investigation was also available.

The 58 year-old aircraft commander had 19,186 hours total flying experience which included 14,186 hours that were on type and 12,428 hours in command on all types. He had been employed by Southwest since 1999. The 61 year-old First Officer had 15,500 hours total flying experience of which 5,473 hours were on type. He had been employed by Southwest since 2006. Both pilots had flown to and from Nashville "numerous times previously".