# NTSB DCA25LA239: Airbus A320, N616NK, Nashville, TN, June 22, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 22, 2025, 18:38 local (23:38 UTC) - Place: Nashville, TN - Coordinates: 36.130202, -86.675645 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1302&lon=-86.6756&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, 178 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 27, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA AVP, Spirit - Manager Safety Investigations - NTSB case key (mKey): 200361 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200361/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200361 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA239 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with moderate convective turbulence during descent. ## 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: [Airbus A320-232, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3940004), [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: [Airbus A320-232, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3940004), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis Spirit Airlines flight 2037 encountered moderate turbulence during descent into Nashville International Airport (BNA), Nashville, Tennessee. One flight attendant (FA) was seriously injured and there were no passenger injuries. According to the flight crew, they became aware of developing weather in the terminal area during cruise at FL310. At that time, the airplane was approximately 160 nautical miles from any weather and the captain noted that towering cumulus clouds had been added to the automated meteorological briefing for BNA. The flight crew discussed weather mitigation strategies, including approach planning and potential windshear considerations. To reduce workload during the anticipated high-workload phase of flight and to provide advance notice to the cabin crew, the flight crew coordinated an early lavatory break. During this break, the captain advised the lead FA that the seat belt sign would be illuminated early and instructed the cabin crew to expedite descent preparations and be seated as soon as possible due to rapidly changing weather conditions. Descending through FL270, the seat belt sign was illuminated, and a public address (PA) announcement was made before the standard FL180 notification for the FAs to prepare for arrival. The flight crew stated this early announcement was made due to weather and elevated workload. Descending through FL180, air traffic control (ATC) issued an expedited descent clearance to 11,000 feet and a heading of 330°. While turning to the assigned heading, the flight crew observed convective weather directly ahead. The crew requested a right deviation, which was denied by ATC due to traffic; a left deviation was subsequently approved. The crew initiated a left turn but entered a pocket of turbulence before clearing the weather. At approximately 16,000 ft, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence lasting approximately 10 seconds. The autopilot and autothrottle remained engaged, airspeed remained stable, and turbulence penetration speed was maintained throughout the encounter. Following the turbulence encounter, the captain contacted the lead FA and was initially advised that all passengers and crew were fine. However later, during the approach, the lead FA informed the captain that one FA had been injured in the aft galley. Due to the late phase of flight, the crew elected to continue the approach and requested medical assistance upon landing. The injured FA reported that she was advised that turbulence was possible and that it would be prudent to expedite their descent preparations. She did not recall whether the seat belt sign was illuminated at that time. She had just returned to the aft galley and began emptying a coffee pot when the turbulence occurred. After landing, emergency medical services responded at the gate and transported the injured FA to the hospital. Medical evaluation revealed fractures to the left foot, multiple fractures to the right foot, a fracture to the tibia, and afractured or bruised tailbone. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N616NK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N616NK), registered now, S/N 5370, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A320 (232) - Registry model: [Airbus A320-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-232) (registry code 3940004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE V2527-A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2527-a5) (registry code 34604, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 05370 - Airframe hours: 44860 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Spirit Airlines - Registered owner: Umb Bank Na Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 20, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport, private, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 14, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,301 total, 2,688 in this make and model, 2,937 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review July 28, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,199 total, 884 in this make and model, 3,894 as pilot in command, 233 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: 150° at 6 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Turbulence: Moderate - METAR: METAR 17:43 KBNA 221753Z 15006KT 8SM -RA BKN040TCU BKN045 BKN 055 BKN 250 29/23 ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 27, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200361. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19710712&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MIA-BNA%20Turbulence%206120_1_Form%20Printed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 303 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19688639&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA25LA239%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Cabin crew statements (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19688649&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA25LA239%20Cabin%20Crew%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.