# NTSB DCA17CA072: Boeing 737 76N, N7822A, Phoenix, AZ, February 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 11, 2017, 19:50 local (Feb 12, 2017, 02:50 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.434165, -112.011665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4342&lon=-112.0117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 143 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 94770 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA17CA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94770/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94770 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17CA072 ## Probable cause the catering agent's lack of situational awareness when exiting the airplane that resulted in a serious injury. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-76N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=13844CH), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-76N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=13844CH), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis On February 11, 2017, about 1950 mountain standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 4152, a Boeing 737-700, N7822A, had a catering agent fall from the airplane while alongside provisioning the airplane. On board were the captain, first officer, three flight attendants and several passengers. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona, to Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Sacramento, California. According to Southwest Airlines, while passengers were boarding the airplane at the gate, a catering agent returned to the airplane to provide a box of peanuts. The agent stopped the provisioning truck short of the airplane creating a gap between the truck and the airplane. After entering the airplane to deliver the peanuts, the agent lost situational awareness and stepped backwards, falling through the gap, and suffered a fractured rib. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 2017, about 1950 mountain standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 4152, a Boeing 737-700, N7822A, had a catering agent fall from the airplane while alongside provisioning the airplane. On board were the captain, first officer, three flight attendants and several passengers. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona, to Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Sacramento, California. According to Southwest Airlines, while passengers were boarding the airplane at the gate, a catering agent returned to the airplane to provide a box of peanuts. The agent stopped the provisioning truck short of the airplane creating a gap between the truck and the airplane. After entering the airplane to deliver the peanuts, the agent lost situational awareness and stepped backwards, falling through the gap, and suffered a fractured rib. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7822A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7822A-2026-06-05), registration cancelled 2026-06-05, S/N 32596, built 2001 (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: 32596 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 47885 - Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B22 24000 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B22 24000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Southwest Airlines Co - Registered owner: Southwest Airlines Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 26, 2017 - Departed: PHX, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: SMF, Sacramento, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PHX, Phoenix Sky Harbor - Equipment: Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display, Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 19,100 total, 13,275 in this make and model, 13,150 as pilot in command, 238 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 7,537 total, 3,737 in this make and model, 1,120 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Temperature: 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: PHX ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94770. 625 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 625 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452665&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.