# NTSB DCA22LA134: Boeing 737-700, N256WN, Tacoma, WA, May 22, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 21, 2022, 20:00 local (May 22, 2022, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Tacoma, WA - Coordinates: 47.1857, -122.2737 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1857&lon=-122.2737&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 66 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): 105307 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105307/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105307 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA134 ## Probable cause During cruise flight with no reported turbulence a passenger sustained a serious injury for an unknown reason. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Passenger; cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7H4, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=1384404), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to a flight attendant (FA) on Southwest Airlines flight 2046, during cruise flight with no reported turbulence, she and several passengers noticed the forward lavatory was occupied for an unusually long time (10-15 minutes) requiring passengers to use the back lavatory. The FA realized the passenger had unlocked the lavatory door and cracked it open but did not exit. She knocked on the door and asked if everything was okay but there was no response. When the FA attempted to open the door, a female passenger started to exit the lavatory when she began to fall and grabbed on to the FA. The FA immediately requested for the front two passengers to assist her in getting the passenger up and moved to a seat. While assisting the passenger, the FA noticed the passenger’s foot was swollen and piece of bone was sticking through her skin. A volunteer medical professional who was onboard the airplane assisted and positioned the injured passenger in the front galley for landing. Emergency medical personnel met the airplane at the gate and transported the passenger to a local hospital. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N256WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N256WN), registered now, S/N 32514, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 737-700 - 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: 32514 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 52645 - 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, Commuter - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 15, 2022 - Departed: KOAK, Oakland, CA - Destination: KBLI, Bellingham, WA - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 13,900 total, 8,100 in this make and model, 3,960 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,011 total, 93 in this make and model, 5,145 as pilot in command, 93 in the last 90 days, 93 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 3019.00 inHg ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105307. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14085592&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14087983&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SWA2046%20-%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements%20v2_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. --- 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.