# NTSB DCA22LA012: Boeing 737-8H4, N8642E, Lexington, VA, October 9, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 8, 2021, 20:30 local (Oct 9, 2021, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Lexington, VA · enroute
- Coordinates: 37.8, -79.1 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8000&lon=-79.1000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 111 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: FAA, SWA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104153
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104153/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA012

## Probable cause

The airplane’s inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence.

## 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; cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=138440A), [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: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane was in cruise flight when it encountered convective turbulence at flight level (FL) 320. Weather conditions were dark moonless night with scattered storms visible on radar, but the crew reported no returns along their path. A Convective SIGMET was in effect for the area which forecast cloud tops to FL320. The cabin crew was conducting drink service. The flight crew stated they unexpectedly entered a cloud and experienced moderate to borderline severe turbulence. The C flight attendant fell and broke her ankle.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8642E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8642E-2026-05-15), registration cancelled 2026-05-15, S/N 42525, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-8H4
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-8H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8h4) (registry code 138440A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B27E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b27e-series) (registry code 13078, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 42525
- Year built: 2014
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B27E 27300 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B27E 27300 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Southwest Airlines Co
- Registered owner: Southwest Airlines Co
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: KBWI, Baltimore, MD
- Destination: KATL, Atlanta, GA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 29,629 total, 4,320 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: right; flight hours: 13,400 total, 2,658 in this make and model
- Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Turbulence: Moderate
- Observed at: KLYH, 30 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 20211008017909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211008017909A), Oct 8, 2021: Boeing 737-8H4, Lexington, VA, No damage. As the flight attendants were beginning drink service, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence. The ?c? Position flight attendant injured her ankle and was…

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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