# NTSB DCA25LA234: Boeing 737-7H4, N969WN, Ebro, FL, June 14, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 14, 2025, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Ebro, FL - Coordinates: 30.358155, -85.799314 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3582&lon=-85.7993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 146 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 29, 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, SWA ASI - NTSB case key (mKey): 200337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200337/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200337 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA234 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with convective turbulence during climb while diverting to an alternate airport, resulting in a serious injury to a passenger who disregarded the flight crew’s illuminated seat belt sign and the cabin crew’s instruction to remain seated. ## 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. - [Initial climb: 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 Southwest Airlines flight 3508 encountered unanticipated moderate turbulence while deviating around convective weather. The flight originated from Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Dallas, Texas, with a planned destination of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), Panama City, Florida, and diverted to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), Jacksonville, Florida. Preflight weather planning indicated scattered convective buildups in the Florida panhandle region, typical for that time of year. The crew designated JAX as the diversion airport. The flight departed DAL uneventfully, and en route operations were normal with the seat belt sign off and cabin service underway. As the flight descended toward ECP, the flight crew received updated weather information showing developing convective activity near the airport. Air traffic control (ATC) vectors corresponded with what the crew saw via enroute weather monitoring. Another Southwest Airlines flight ahead of them executed a missed approach at ECP due to heavy precipitation and reduced visibility. The flight crew determined that available fuel on board would not permit multiple missed approaches and a diversion, so they elected to divert to JAX. According to the flight attendants (FAs), the seat belt sign was illuminated, and the flight crew reminded passengers to remain seated. However, a passenger disregarded the seat belt sign and entered the aft lavatory. During the climb to the east, through approximately 5,000 ft mean sea level in instrument meteorological conditions, the airplane encountered a brief period of moderate turbulence lasting 2 to 3 seconds. The autopilot disengaged, and the first officer assumed manual control. The flight crew stabilized the airplane and continued the diversion to JAX. When the airplane encountered turbulence, the passenger was exiting the aft lavatory and was thrown upward, striking the ceiling and the floor. The aft FA reported the passenger lost consciousness briefly before regaining awareness and sitting in the nearest available seat. The aft FA notified the flight crew of the injured passenger, and emergency medical personnel were requested to meet the airplane on arrival. The flight landed uneventfully at JAX. Paramedics met the airplane and transported the injured passenger to a local hospital, where the passenger was diagnosed with multiple fractures to the neck and back and subsequently underwent surgery. No other injuries were reported and there was no damage to the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N969WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N969WN), registered now, S/N 41777, built 2011 (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 CFM56-7B24E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b24e-series) (registry code 13804, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 41777 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 42829 - Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B24E 24200 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B24E 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, May 7, 2025 - Departed: KDAL, Dallas, TX - Destination: KECP, Panama City, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 17, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,045 total, 6,761 in this make and model, 149 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 25, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,621 total, 1,390 in this make and model, 1,473 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 1.3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KECP, 20 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200337. 2.0 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=19479464&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_2025%20Printed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Crew statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19479576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SWA3508%20Crew%20Statements_removedwatermark-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.