# NTSB DCA25LA230: Boeing 737, N27266, Phoenix, AZ, June 8, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 8, 2025, 07:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.4343, -112.012 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4343&lon=-112.0120&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor, 163 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA AVP-110 - NTSB case key (mKey): 200304 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200304/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200304 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA230 ## Probable cause The abrupt application of brakes during taxi, which resulted in a sudden stop and caused a flight attendant to sustain a serious injury. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=13844FZ), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=13844FZ), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis United Airlines flight 716, came to a sudden stop while taxiing out of the gate area and trying to make a turn onto taxiway C at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona. As a result of the abrupt stop, one flight attendant (FA) sustained a serious injury. The event flight returned to the gate and emergency medical services were called. Flight 716 was a scheduled passenger flight from PHX to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey, with a planned departure time of 0700 MST. The flight crew reported that this was the first flight of the day. The captain was the pilot flying, and the first officer (FO) was the pilot monitoring. According to the flight crew, there were no operational pressures, and following a normal pushback and engine start-up, the airplane was positioned on Taxiway Z facing north, holding short of Taxiway C, where they contacted Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) ground control for taxi clearance (see figure 1). Ground control issued the standard southbound taxi route, which they had reviewed during the pilot briefing. The captain confirmed the instructions with the FO that they would turn right on Taxiway C, then right on Taxiway S, holding short of Taxiway D. According to the flight crew, while taxiing at a speed below 10 knots, the FO noticed they were beginning to pass Taxiway C. The FO alerted the captain that they needed to turn right to enter Taxiway C. The captain applied the brakes to assist with the turning maneuver, using what he recalled felt like normal pressure. Initially, everything seemed normal, but shortly afterward, the flight crew indicated that they felt that the brakes responded more aggressively than expected, causing the airplane to come to an abrupt stop. Both crew members confirmed there was sufficient space to complete the turn safely. Figure 1. Image of the taxi route for flight 716. (Source: United Airlines) According to the forward FA’s, after the airplane had departed from the gate and was taxiing out to the runway, they had started showing the safety demonstration video. Shortly after that, the airplane came to an abrupt stop. Both FAs were in the forward galley at the time and were thrown into the metal counter and safety latches. Each reported experiencing sharp pain in the neck, back, and legs as a result of the sudden jolt. As the airplane entered Taxiway C, the flight crew received a call from one of the forward FA’s indicating that the other forward FA was injured and she needed to go back to the gate. The flight crew coordinated with PHX operations, ramp, and ground control to return to the gate. Paramedics met the airplane at the gate and transported the injured FA to the hospital where they were diagnosed with a serious injury. According to United Airlines, their maintenance personnel conducted a post-accident general visual inspection of the airplane’s brake system and reported no anomalies were found. The airplane was subsequently placedon jacks, and the wheels were manually rotated. No evidence of brake dragging or grabbing was observed during this procedure. The brake system was cycled multiple times while the wheels were spun, and no faults or irregularities were identified. A review of maintenance history for this airplane showed that there were two maintenance entries for the braking system in the previous 90 days. Both entries were due to broken clips and were not related to braking actions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27266](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27266), registered now, S/N 66597, built 2021 (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: 66597 - Year built: 2021 - Engines: GE Aerospace Leap 1B 28000 hp turbo fan; GE Aerospace Leap 1B 28000 hp turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: United Airlines - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Destination: KEWR, Newark, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PHX, Phoenix Sky Harbor International - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, waiver time limited special; last flight review November 17, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,925 total, 2,411 in this make and model, 2,981 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 93 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 48; injuries: none; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2024; seat: right; flight hours: 5,156 total, 1,837 in this make and model, 328 as pilot in command, 228 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 11.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 36 °F - Observed at: KPHX ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250608021209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250608021209A), Jun 8, 2025: Boeing 737-8, Phoenix, AZ, No damage. Flight 716 leaving ramp area on taxiway z was instructed to turn right on taxiway charlie. Approaching charlie, captain continued straight ahead as if to turn… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200304. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19492686&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20DCA25LA230%20Printed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Crew statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19492524&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=UA716%20NTSB%20Statement%20-%20Crew%20(FINAL)-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.