UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

March 11, 2015

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

(425) 453-9400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Effective immediately following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2015 Annual Meeting”) of Esterline Technologies Corporation (“Esterline”) on March 11, 2015, Jerry D. Leitman retired from the Esterline Board of Directors. In addition, effective March 11, 2015, Mr. Henry W. Winship resigned from the Board of Directors. Neither Mr. Leitman nor Mr. Winship resigned due to a disagreement with Esterline. As previously reported in Esterline’s proxy statement in connection with the 2015 Annual Meeting, Mr. Leitman’s retirement from the Board occurred in accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, which require directors to tender their resignation prior to the annual meeting of shareholders following their 72^nd birthday. Mr. Winship resigned for general business reasons that are referenced in an Esterline press release issued on March 12, 2015, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report. As a result of the resignations, the Board reduced the number of authorized members of the Board of Directors to eight.

At the 2015 Annual Meeting held on March 11, 2015, the shareholders acted on the following proposals:

On March 12, 2015, Esterline announced that its Board of Directors has approved an increase of $200 million to its existing share repurchase program. With this increase, Esterline is authorized to repurchase up to $400 million of outstanding shares of common stock from time to time, depending on market conditions, share price and other factors, under the program. Repurchases may be made in the open market or through private transactions, in accordance with SEC requirements. Esterline may enter into a Rule 10(b)5-1 plan designed to facilitate the repurchase of all or a portion of the repurchase amount. The repurchase program does not require Esterline to acquire a specific number of shares. The press release issued by Esterline and filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report also describes the share repurchase program.

(d) Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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