- Date
- December 26, 2015, 12:41 local (20:41 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 147 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7733BBoeing 737 76N
- Defining event
- Approach: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- FAA report
- 20151226024229A
- Case key
- 92587
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
On December 26, 2015, at about 1238 pacific standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 5895, a Boeing 737-700, N7733B, encountered moderate turbulence while descending for approach to San Diego International Airport (KSAN), San Diego, California. Of the 148 passengers and crewmembers onboard, one flight attendant received serious injuries and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Denver International Airport (KDEN), Denver, Colorado, to KSAN. The flight crew stated that turbulence encounter occurred as the airplane was descending through about 14,000 feet and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the three flight attendants (FA) were standing in the aft galley preparing to secure the cabin. When the turbulence began, all three FAs attempted to brace themselves but one FA was unable to grab an assist handle by the galley when she thrown to the floor. She was unable to stand back up on her own and required assistance from the other FAs. After landing, the injured FA was transported to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured ankle.
Factual narrative
On December 26, 2015, at about 1238 pacific standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 5895, a Boeing 737-700, N7733B, encountered moderate turbulence while descending for approach to San Diego International Airport (KSAN), San Diego, California. Of the 148 passengers and crewmembers onboard, one flight attendant received serious injuries and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Denver International Airport (KDEN), Denver, Colorado, to KSAN. The flight crew stated that turbulence encounter occurred as the airplane was descending through about 14,000 feet and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the three flight attendants (FA) were standing in the aft galley preparing to secure the cabin. When the turbulence began, all three FAs attempted to brace themselves but one FA was unable to grab an assist handle by the galley when she thrown to the floor. She was unable to stand back up on her own and required assistance from the other FAs. After landing, the injured FA was transported to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured ankle.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7733B
- Reported as
- Boeing 737 76N (76N)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32678
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 31,165
- Engines
- CFM Intl CFM56-7B24, 24,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-7B24, 24,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Southwest Airlines Co
- Registered owner
- Afs Investments 57 LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · December 24, 2015
- Departed
- KDEN · Denver, CO
- Destination
- KSAN · San Diego, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Equipment
- Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, Onboard weather
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 5
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 4, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 17,261 total · 5,849 in this make and model · 12,882 as pilot in command · 177 in the last 90 days · 44 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 25, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 17,500 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 12,300 as pilot in command · 175 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- None
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- None
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- Serious
- Restraint
- 3-point
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.21 inHg
- Turbulence
- Moderate
- Observed at
- SAN, 35 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.