# NTSB DCA16CA026: Boeing 737 7H4, N467WN, St Louis, MO, November 29, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 29, 2015, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: St Louis, MO - Coordinates: 38.629608, -90.240516 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6296&lon=-90.2405&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, 147 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 92381 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA16CA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92381/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92381 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA026 ## Probable cause an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/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 November 29, 2015, at 5:15pm central standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 145, a Boeing 737-700, N467WN, encountered severe turbulence on descent to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), St. Louis, Missouri. The airplane was descending between flight level 210 and flight level 180 with the seatbelt light illuminated. The flight attendants (FA) were completing cabin service, and the two FA's in the aft cabin fell, one experiencing a broken right foot and leg. None of the passengers were injured and the airplane was not damaged. The airplane was on a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Dallas Love Field (DAL). ## Factual narrative On November 29, 2015, at 5:15pm central standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 145, a Boeing 737-700, N467WN, encountered severe turbulence on descent to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), St. Louis, Missouri. The airplane was descending between flight level 210 and flight level 180 with the seatbelt light illuminated. The flight attendants (FA) were completing cabin service, and the two FA's in the aft cabin fell, one experiencing a broken right foot and leg. None of the passengers were injured and the airplane was not damaged. The airplane was on a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Dallas Love Field (DAL). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N467WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N467WN), registered now, S/N 33830, 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: 33830 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 41478 - Engines: CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES turbo fan; CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Southwest Airlines Co - Registered owner: Southwest Airlines Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Commuter; Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal - Departed: KDAL, Dallas, TX - Destination: KSTL, St. Louis, MO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KSTL, Lambert - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16,300 total, 12,400 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 18, 2015; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 10,340 total, 3,869 in this make and model, 4,074 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Severe - Observed at: KSTL, 54 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92381. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=2928896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=dca16ca026_6120_redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight data recorder PLOT1 (item 2, PDF, 1 page): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=2926626&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FDR%20data%20plot%201-Rel.pdf - Flight data recorder PLOT2 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=2928456&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FDR%20data%20plot%202-Rel.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.