# NTSB DCA25LA185: Boeing 737, N7724A, Houston, TX, April 17, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 17, 2025, 11:42 local (16:42 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX · Google Earth lat/long for taxiway Hotel - Coordinates: 29.639213, -95.283913 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6392&lon=-95.2839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 138 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA AVP - NTSB case key (mKey): 200028 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200028/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200028 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA185 ## Probable cause Serious Injury to a flight attendant sustained during an evacuation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (turbine/turboprop)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Boeing 737-7BD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md?model=1384511), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md) - [Physical workspace: air quality/dust/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041025): Environmental issues › Task environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Boeing 737-7BD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041025/cases.md?model=1384511), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041025/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: illness/injury](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010): Personnel issues › Physical · Cabin crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7BD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010/cases.md?model=1384511), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7BD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1384511), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Standing: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-7BD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=1384511), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis Southwest Airlines flight 3006, a scheduled international passenger flight from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston, Texas, to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, experienced a right engine failure resulting in an air turnback. During the turnback, a burning odor was reported in the cabin and an evacuation was commanded after landing. During the evacuation, one flight attendant (FA) sustained a serious injury. According to the flight crew, they were on day two, leg two, of a three-day line experience rotation. The first officer (FO), pilot flying, was returning from leave and the captain (CA) was a line check airman for the company. During the preflight, the flight crew discussed the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) reporting windshear and planned for a precautionary takeoff profile. The flight crew briefed the engine out procedures and the takeoff profile for runway 22. The taxi and takeoff were normal. During climb out, the flight crew observed the right engine exhaust gas temperature (EGT) indication momentarily increase into the red overtemp range, then decrease. The flight crew then heard a “popping” noise and observed the right engine N1 indication decrease to approximately 50%. The CA declared an emergency with air traffic control (ATC) and initiated the Engine Fire, Severe Damage or Separation quick reference checklist (QRC) and the quick reference handbook (QRH) procedures. The FO continued as the pilot flying and coordinated vectors for a return to HOU. The “A” FA contacted the cockpit to inform them of a burning odor in the cabin. The CA informed the FAs that they had an engine malfunction and were returning to HOU. The CA then made a public announcement informing the passengers that they would be landing in 20 minutes. After completing all appropriate checklists, the CA assumed control of the aircraft, and the FO transitioned to the pilot monitoring. The approach and landing were uneventful. ATC requested that the flight crew exit the runway at the end and coordinate with airport rescue firefighting (ARFF). After clearing the runway and stopping, the CA contacted the FA’s and was informed that there was still a strong burning odor in the cabin. At that time, the CA elected to initiate an evacuation of the airplane. The CA informed ARFF of the decision and the FO began the QRH for an evacuation. The flight crew completed the QRH procedure, including left engine shutdown and FLAP 40 extension, and the CA commanded an evacuation via the left side of the aircraft. The FO evacuated the aircraft to assist with the evacuation while the CA remained onboard until all passengers had evacuated. The CA observed passengers re-entering the aircraft from the overwing exits and then utilizing the door slides. After all passengers and flight attendants had evacuated the aircraft, the CA conducted a final walkthrough and evacuated the aircraft. On the ground, the CA learned that ARFF personnel haddirected passengers back into the aircraft due to concerns of injuries sliding off the wing. According to the “B” FA, seated in the aft galley, during takeoff there was a loud noise and followed by a burning odor. As the aircraft continued to climb the odor intensity decreased and they inspected the area and were unable to identify a source. The B FA contacted the A FA and informed them of the odor. The CA made an announcement that they had experienced an engine failure, and they would be landing in approximately 20 minutes. After landing and stopping, the CA called the FAs and asked if the odor still existed, to which the B FA replied that they still smelled a burning odor. After the evacuation, the B FA reported an injury to their ankle. They were diagnosed with a hairline fracture. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7724A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7724A), registered now, S/N 36725, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 737 (7BD) - Registry model: [Boeing 737-7BD](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7bd) (registry code 1384511) (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: 36725 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 49134 - 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, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 13, 2025 - Destination: MMSD, San Jose del Cabo, OF - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KHOU, William P. Hobby Airport, runway 22, 7,602 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Check pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 21, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 18,000 total, 12,000 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 8, 2025; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,794 total, 527 in this make and model, 1,726 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 15 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KHOU ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200028. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19428569&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_DCA25LA185_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19410886&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Crew%20Statements%20DCA25LA185_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.