# NTSB DCA19CA207: Boeing 737, N7816B, Albany, NY, October 15, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 15, 2018, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place: Albany, NY
- Coordinates: 40.709934, -73.95063 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7099&lon=-73.9506&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, 142 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98494
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA19CA207
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98494/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19CA207

## Probable cause

an encounter with convective turbulence that resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7L9, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=13844CV), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/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 737-7L9, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=13844CV), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On October 15, 2018, about 1310 eastern daylight time, Southwest Airlines flight 2437, a Boeing 737-7L9, N7816B, encountered turbulence while descending through about FL280. As a result of the turbulence, one flight attendant received serious injuries. The remaining passengers and crew were not injured, and the airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Chicago Midway International Airport (KMDW), Chicago, Illinois, to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (KMHT), Manchester, New Hampshire. The flight crew stated that prior to encountering turbulence the seat belt sign had been illuminated, and the flight attendants had been asked to be seated since turbulence was anticipated. The flight crew stated that upon entering a “benign-looking” cloud formation the airplane encountered continuous moderate to heavy turbulence for about 20 to 30 seconds. The flight attendants (FA) stated that soon after receiving the call to be seated, the flight encountered turbulence and the FA in the aft galley was thrown against the door and cabinets, and then onto the floor, injuring her right foot. After landing the FA was transported to a local hospital and diagnosed with a broken right foot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7816B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7816B-2023-02-27), registration cancelled 2023-02-27, S/N 28009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Boeing 737 (7L9)
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-7L9](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7l9) (registry code 13844CV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B24 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b24-series) (registry code 13044, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28009
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 58134
- Engines: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 10142 horsepower turbo fan; Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 10142 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Southwest Airlines
- Registered owner: Wells Fargo Trust Co Na Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 5, 2018
- Departed: MDW, Chicago, IL
- Destination: MHT, Manchester, NH
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 13,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 7, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,270 total, 1,865 in this make and model, 2,360 as pilot in command, 167 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

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.

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