# NTSB DCA25LA156: Boeing 737-8, N8776L, San Diego, CA, March 2, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 2, 2025, 22:16 UTC - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.66431, -117.25253 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6643&lon=-117.2525&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 175 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 AVP110 - NTSB case key (mKey): 199820 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199820/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA156 ## Probable cause An encounter with an area of moderate clear air turbulence associated with the jet stream during cruise. ## 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 · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=13844FZ), [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 · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=13844FZ), [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-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=13844FZ), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis During cruise at FL345, Southwest Airlines flight 1425 enroute to San Diego International Airport (SAN) encountered turbulence, causing hot coffee to spill into a flight attendant’s boot. The incident occurred during cabin service in the aft galley, resulting in second-degree burns. The flight crew stated that before departure, they reviewed the forecasted weather conditions using Weather Services International (WSI) and SkyPath electronic flight bag (EFB) applications. Based on this assessment, the captain conducted a preflight briefing with the flight attendants, during which he informed them that no turbulence was expected during the flight. During the flight, both the captain and the first officer monitored their WSI and SkyPath EFB applications for potential weather and turbulence. They also queried other aircraft operating along similar routes and altitudes. No significant weather concerns were identified, with only occasional light turbulence reported along portions of the route. The captain did advise the FAs to secure the cabin early for arrival into SAN due to the breezy conditions reported on the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) at the time. Part of the weather document issued to the flight crew consisted of the National Weather Service (NWS) High-Level Significant Weather Prognostic Chart valid for 18Z and 00Z. The charts depicted a jet stream moving north-to-south across the track in the vicinity of the ETEOC waypoint at FL350 at 120 to 150 knots, with the tropopause lowering to FL350 in the vicinity of the event. The NWS chart depicted the potential for moderate-to-severe turbulence between FL300 and FL460 in the vicinity of the turbulence encounter. The winds aloft charts also indicated a defined upper-level trough and a deformation zone in the vicinity of the turbulence location and showed strong horizontal wind shears in the vicinity east of the jetstream location. The Southwest Airlines Enhanced Weather Information System (EWINS) provider, WSI graphics, had a current advisory over the location for light to occasional moderate turbulence between FL280 to FL380. The flight crew’s weather document provided information which depicted the route crossing the jet stream which showed moderate to occasional severe clear air turbulence (CAT) over the route. In addition, the company issued weather advisories that warned of occasional light to moderate turbulence over the area where the event took place. The flight attendant assigned to the “B” position reported that while performing beverage service in the aft galley, the aircraft encountered turbulence. During this time, she was pouring hot coffee, which spilled into her boot. She immediately removed the boot and applied cold water to the affected area. The flight attendant reported the onset of blistering and described the pain as severe. Despite the injury, she continued working until the flight’s final leg to Denver. Following the flight, the injured flight attendantsought medical attention and was diagnosed with second-degree burns. Eddy dissipation rate (EDR) is a measure for the intensity of turbulence in the atmosphere. It ranges from 0 to 1, where 0 indicates no turbulence and 1 indicates extreme turbulence. According to the flight data downloaded from the IATA Turbulence Aware platform, a peak EDR of 0.254 was recorded at approximately 2215 UTC at flight level FL350. Given the Boeing 737’s classification as a medium weight category aircraft, the recorded EDR value is consistent with moderate turbulence intensity. At the time of the turbulence, the aircraft encountered winds from 338° at 64 knots and an outside air temperature of -51°C, indicative of its position on the cold (polar) side of the jet stream core and near or above the tropopause. As the flight progressed eastward, the outside air temperature further decreased to -53°C. The approach and landing were uneventful, and the flight crew did not receive any report of the injury during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8776L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8776L), registered now, S/N 67761, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 737-8 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8) (registry code 13844FZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International LEAP-1B28 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-leap-1b28-series) (registry code 13120, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 67761 - Year built: 2022 - Engines: CFM INTL LEAP-1B28 SER 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL LEAP-1B28 SER 27000 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 24, 2022 - Departed: HNL, Honolulu, HI - Destination: SAN, San Diego, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Heads up display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; 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 June 28, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 16,052 total, 6,115 as pilot in command, 129 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 10, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,000 total, 1,288 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; restraint: none ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Turbulence: Moderate 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.