# NTSB DCA15CA050: Boeing 737 7H4, N481WN, San Jose, CA, December 11, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 11, 2014, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Coordinates: 37.362777, -121.929168 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3628&lon=-121.9292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 80 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA15CA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90607/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90607
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA15CA050

## Probable cause

an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence during descent.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On December 11, 2014, about 0830 pacific standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 154, a Boeing B737-7H4, N481WN, encountered turbulence during descent into Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, San Jose, California (SJC). The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 as a domestic passenger flight that originated from Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX) to. According to crew statements, the flight crew instructed the flight attendants (FA) to secure the cabin early due to anticipated storms and turbulence around SJC. The "B" FA stated that as she was cleaning the aft galley when the airplane experienced "several jolts" of turbulence. She indicated that, while turning to sit down on the aft jumpseat, she twisted her left foot. The FA further stated that she was able to perform all required duties through the remainder of the flight and thought she only had a mild sprain. She did not inform the flight crew or other FAs of her injury. After a week of continued pain and swelling she visited a podiatrist and was diagnosed with two fractured metatarsals in her left foot.

## Factual narrative

On December 11, 2014, about 0830 pacific standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 154, a Boeing B737-7H4, N481WN, encountered turbulence during descent into Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, San Jose, California (SJC). The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 as a domestic passenger flight that originated from Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX) to. According to crew statements, the flight crew instructed the flight attendants (FA) to secure the cabin early due to anticipated storms and turbulence around SJC. The "B" FA stated that as she was cleaning the aft galley when the airplane experienced "several jolts" of turbulence. She indicated that, while turning to sit down on the aft jumpseat, she twisted her left foot. The FA further stated that she was able to perform all required duties through the remainder of the flight and thought she only had a mild sprain. She did not inform the flight crew or other FAs of her injury. After a week of continued pain and swelling she visited a podiatrist and was diagnosed with two fractured metatarsals in her left foot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N481WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N481WN), registered now, S/N 29853, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737 7H4 (7H4)
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-7H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7h4) (registry code 1384404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 29853
- Year built: 2004
- Engines: CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES 24000 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES 24000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Southwest Airlines
- Registered owner: Southwest Airlines Co
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LAX, Los Angeles, CA
- Destination: San Jose, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 28, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 21,000 total, 16,000 in this make and model, 17,000 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 9,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 23 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.55 inHg
- Observed at: SJC, 50 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90607. 641 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 595 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434126&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434127&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF

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.

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