# NTSB DCA16CA053: Boeing 737 7H4, N475WN, Charlotte, NC, December 23, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 23, 2015, 01:16 local (07:16 UTC) - Place: Charlotte, NC - Coordinates: 35.285831, -80.821388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2858&lon=-80.8214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 141 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 92588 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA16CA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92588/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92588 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA053 ## 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. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md) ## Analysis On December 23, 2015, at about 00:30 central daylight time, Southwest Airlines flight 834, a Boeing 737-700, N475WN, encountered clear air turbulence while descending for approach to Charlotte/Douglas Intl (KCLT), Charlotte, North Carolina. Of the 142 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 Chicago Midway Intl (KMDW), Chicago, Illinois, to KCLT. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the "B" flight attendant (FA) was securing the galley for landing when she was thrown into the air and landed on the metal part of the galley. 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 upon arrival to KCLT where she was diagnosed with a broken foot ## Factual narrative On December 23, 2015, at about 0130 eastern standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 834, a Boeing 737-700, N475WN, encountered clear air turbulence while descending for approach to Charlotte/Douglas Intl (KCLT), Charlotte, North Carolina. Of the 142 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 Chicago Midway Intl (KMDW), Chicago, Illinois, to KCLT. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the "B" flight attendant (FA) was securing the galley for landing when she was thrown into the air and landed on the metal part of the galley. 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 upon arrival to KCLT where she was diagnosed with a broken foot ## Aircraft - Registration: [N475WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N475WN), registered now, S/N 32474, 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: 32474 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 40928 - 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 Co, doing business as Southwest Airlines Co. - Registered owner: Southwest Airlines Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 22, 2015 - Departed: KMDW, Chicago, IL - Destination: KCLT, Charlotte, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, waiver time limited special; last flight review July 30, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 18,300 total, 15,100 in this make and model, 13,100 as pilot in command, 256 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2015; seat: right; flight hours: 10,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 7.3 in the last 24 hours - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: CLT, 240 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92588. 1.3 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=40465837&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465838&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Employee Statements (item 3, .PDF, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465839&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Employee%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.