# NTSB DCA22LA001: Boeing 737-7H4, N254WN, Orlando, FL, July 5, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 5, 2020, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Coordinates: 28.429399, -81.308998
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4294&lon=-81.3090&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, 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: Southwest Airlines - Senior Safety Investigator
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104013
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104013/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104013
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA001

## Probable cause

An encounter with moderate turbulence during descent.

## 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 737-7H4, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1384404), [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 737-7H4, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

A flight attendant, who was standing in the aft galley while securing the cabin, was injured when the flight encountered turbulence during descent. According to the flight crew, there was a significant area of weather over the Florida peninsula, so they directed the flight attendants to secure the cabin early and take their seats for the remainder of the flight. While they were securing the cabin, the flight encountered an area of moderate convective turbulence lasting about 30 seconds. When the turbulence was encountered, the “B” position flight attendant was seriously injured after being thrown down and striking the aft galley floor hard. The captain was not told of any injuries at the time of the event. The flight attendant was later diagnosed with a compression fracture of the L1 vertebra spine along with other back injuries including disc herniation and cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sprain.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N254WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N254WN), registered now, S/N 32512, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-7H4
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-7H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7h4) (registry code 1384404) (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: 32512
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 48136
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 24200 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 24200 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, July 1, 2020
- Departed: MKJS, Montego Bay, OF
- Destination: KMCO, Orlando, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 8, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 91 total, 91 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; age 44; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 9,861 total, 2,436 in this make and model, 2,776 as pilot in command, 236 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Cabin crew; injuries: serious; restraint: none
- Cabin crew; injuries: minor; restraint: none
- Cabin crew; injuries: none; restraint: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KMCO

## Other investigations on N254WN (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR09IA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09IA033), Nov 7, 2008: Boeing 737-700 (N254WN), Salt Lake City, UT, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The tug driver's failure to maintain situational awareness during the push back operation.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104013. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 267 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14009268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA001%20SWA%20273%20MBJ-MCO%20Crew%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14174283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.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.

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