# Accident 20241226020879A: Boeing 737-9, Coaldale, NV, December 26, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 26, 2024, 13:35 local time
- Place: Coaldale, NV
- Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor Internation
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: ASAA
- Location: 36.0261° N, 114.9312° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0261&lon=-114.9312&mi=10
- Aircraft: N958AK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N958AK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-9 (registry code 138470A, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International LEAP-1B28B series (registry code 13124, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-leap-1b28b-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-9
- Reported engine: CFM INTL LEAP-1B28B
- People aboard: 186
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 5
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,889 total, 1,864 in this make and model, 107 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA25FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25FA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241226020879A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON DECEMBER 26, 2024, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A BOEING 737-900 MAX, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FROM SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WA (SEA), TO PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AZ (PHX) ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE RESULTING IN INJURIES TO FLIGHT ATTENDANTS. (FAS)

THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE AT FL330, SOUTHEAST OF LAS VEGAS. A SIGNIFICANT METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION (SIGMET) FOR THE AREA INDICATED LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY PILOT REPORTS (PIREPS). APPROXIMATLEY 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO ENTERING THIS AREA, THE FLIGHT CREW NOTIFIED THE PASSENGERS AND FAS REGARDING UPCOMING TURBULENCE. THE FAS WERE ALSO TOLD TO PREPARE THE CABIN FOR ARRIVAL AND TAKE THEIR JUMPSEATS.

ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER MAKING THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS, SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE TURBULENCE DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT, CAUSED AN ALTITUDE LOSS 300 FEET AND A 10 KNOT OVERSPEED. ALL PASSENGERS AND THE FORWARD FAS WERE SEATED WITH SEATBELTS ON. NONE OF THE THREE FAS IN THE AFT GALLEY WERE STRAPPED NOT THEIR JUMPSEATS AND SUFFERED INJURIES. THE FLIGHT CREW WERE NOTIFIED OF INJURIES TO TWO FAS AND THE NON-WORKING JUMPSEATING FA.

AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED FOR PRIORITY HANDLING INTO PHX AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY AT APPROXIMATELY 1510 LOCAL TIME. PRIOR TO DEPLANING PASSENGERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) BOARDED, EXAMINED, AND REMOVED THE INJURED FAS.

INJURIES TO THE FAS WERE SEVERE ENOUGH THAT TWO FAS REQUIRED SURGERY, HOSPITAL STAYS EXCEEDING 48 HOURS FOLLOWED BY REHABILITATION. THE THIRD INJURED FA WAS TREATED AND RELEASED WITHIN 24 HOURS.

ON FEBRUARY 19, 2025, AN INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED WITH THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST OFFICER SEPARATELY.  MINOR DEVIATIONS FROM COMPANY PROCEDURES WERE IDENTIFIED BUT DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER.

THE CREW FOLLOWED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BEST RIDE AT ALTITUDE. THE FLIGHT DECK CREW USED ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION TO LESSEN THE RISK OF TURBULENCE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DCA25FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25FA071), Dec 26, 2024: Boeing 737 (N958AK), Henderson, NV, no damage, investigation ongoing

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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