# NTSB DCA25LA126: Boeing 737-7H4, N939WN, Hacienda Heights, CA, February 14, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 13, 2025, 16:00 local (Feb 14, 2025, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Hacienda Heights, CA - Coordinates: 34, -118 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0000&lon=-118.0000&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, 119 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 199703 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199703/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199703 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA126 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with moderate turbulence during descent, which resulted in 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 737-7H4, 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 On February 13, 2025, Southwest Airlines flight 3338, operating from Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK), Oakland, California, to San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Diego, California, encountered turbulence during descent. One flight attendant (FA) sustained a serious injury. Prior to departure, the flight crew reviewed weather data via the Weather Services International (WSI) and SkyPath applications and noted the possibility of turbulence during climb-out and descent. Flight attendants were briefed to remain seated until further notice. During climb and cruise, the aircraft experienced “light chop.” After the turbulence cleared, the flight crew permitted flight attendants to begin service. The seatbelt sign was subsequently turned off for passengers, and the remainder of the cruise segment was uneventful. According to the flight crew, they continued to monitor the weather and noted no “moderate turbulence plots” along the route, though they did observe occasional “light turbulence plots.” At FL300, prior to descent, the captain reactivated the seatbelt sign and advised passengers to be seated. Shortly thereafter, while descending through scattered clouds between FL300 and FL250, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence. The captain then instructed the FAs to take their seats. According to the FAs, although the flight crew had illuminated the seatbelt sign and briefed passengers via the PA about the impending turbulence, no separate advisory was provided to the cabin crew before the turbulence event. When the turbulence subsided, the flight crew checked on the FAs via the interphone and was informed that one FA had been seriously injured. The captain subsequently requested medical personnel and a manager to meet the flight upon arrival. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N939WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N939WN), registered now, S/N 36646, built 2009 (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 CFM56-7B24/3 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b24-3-series) (registry code 13074, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36646 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 51251 - Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B24/3 22800 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B24/3 22800 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, February 7, 2025 - Departed: OAK, Oakland, CA - Destination: SAN, San Diego, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 11,561 total, 6,452 in this make and model, 11,561 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 49; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review June 11, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 13,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 12 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KSAN - METAR: WSI Turbulence Sigmet 04156 issued 14/0003z MDT (4) Intensity Valid 14/0003z to 14/0300z ALT FL290 to FL370 Detail TYPE TURB Normal ID 04156 VALID 140003Z-140300Z INTST MDT ALT FL290-FL370 MVT ESE 30KT OUTLK NC DISC TURB ASSOC WITH HORIZONTAL WIND SHEAR OVER SOUTHERN CA AREA 65ENE MOD - 55E BLH - 135SE MZB - 85ENE AUDIA - 65ENE MOD - ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199703. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19241864&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_SWA3338_DCA25LA126%20Printed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Crew statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19252402&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SWA_3338_Crew%20Statements-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.