# NTSB DCA16CA052: Boeing 737 76N, N7733B, San Diego, CA, December 26, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 26, 2015, 12:41 local (20:41 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.868331, -116.550003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8683&lon=-116.5500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 147 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 92587 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA16CA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92587/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92587 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA052 ## 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 737-76N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=13844CH), [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. - [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-76N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=13844CH), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7733B-2026-09-02), registration cancelled 2026-09-02, S/N 32678, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 737 76N (76N) - Registry model: [Boeing 737-76N](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-76n) (registry code 13844CH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B22 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b22-series) (registry code 13043, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32678 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 31165 - Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 24000 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 24000 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; 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 - Co-pilot; age 45; injuries: none; 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 - Cabin crew; injuries: none; restraint: 3-point - Cabin crew; injuries: none; restraint: 3-point - 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 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20151226024229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151226024229A), Dec 26, 2015: Boeing 737-76N, San Diego, CA, No damage. During descent, flight encountered moderate turbulence. Flight attendant was in aft galley securing galley for landing and suffered fractured right ankle when… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92587. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 607 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Flight Crew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 569 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Crew%20Statements-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. --- 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.