# NTSB DCA23LA008: Boeing 737, N7881A, Denver, CO, September 29, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 29, 2022, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO · Destination Airport
- Coordinates: 39.861667, -104.67316 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8617&lon=-104.6732&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, 140 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): 106083
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA23LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106083/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23LA008

## Probable cause

An encounter with clear air turbulence during cruise flight.

## Findings

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

- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=13844NE), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Boeing 737-7CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=13844NE), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Boeing 737-7CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=13844NE), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/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 737-7CT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=13844NE), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Southwest Airlines flight 48 encountered turbulence during cruise. One flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from the Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Missouri, to the Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado. According to the flight attendant, as she was pouring coffee into cups while in the front galley, the airplane encountered very light turbulence which she described as a ‘very light bump’. During the event, the coffee pot flipped over and spilled coffee onto the back of her hand, resulting in 2nd degree burns. After the event, the captain called back to the cabin to apologize for the turbulence and advised that it was unexpected. The flight attendant continued duties after the event, and there was no further turbulence. Prior to the flight, the captain discussed the possibility of turbulence during the preflight briefing, however the turbulence associated with the event was unannounced and unexpected.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7881A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7881A), registered now, S/N 35084, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737 (800)
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-7CT](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7ct) (registry code 13844NE) (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: 35084
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 46926
- Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 24200 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B24/3 24200 lbs thrust 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 26, 2022
- Departed: MCI, Kansas City, MO
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 11,440 total, 6,150 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Turbulence: Light

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106083. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15163689&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%206120_print_Redacted_3-Rel.pdf
- Crew statements (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15163395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20SWA%2048%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements_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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