- Date
- June 18, 2025, 15:14 UTC
- Place
- Barlow Bend, AL · Lat/Long from 6120
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 10 minor, 167 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8685BBoeing 737-8H4
- Defining event
- Approach: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 10, 2025
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Parties
- SWA, FAA
- Case key
- 200379
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The airplane’s encounter with unanticipated turbulence during descent, resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
Southwest Airlines flight 311 encountered unanticipated severe turbulence while descending through a thin cloud layer. 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. Prior to departure, the captain briefed the flight attendants (FAs) to remain seated during departure, due to cumulous cloud buildups and anticipated turbulence. While climbing to 37,000 ft (FL370), the flight encountered occasional light chop. After leveling off, the flight crew informed the FAs that they could perform their duties as assigned and turned the fasten seat belt sign off. According to the flight crew, during initial descent, at approximately FL340, the first officer made a public address (PA) announcement indicating that they had started their initial descent, to return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts for the remainder of the flight. The captain observed scattered cumulous clouds ahead of their flight path at approximately FL200 and told the FAs to secure the cabin and be seated early. The airplane descended through FL290 in a hazy cloud layer and encountered approximately 10-15 seconds of turbulence. During the turbulence encounter the autopilot disconnected, the airspeed fluctuated, and the airplane shook. The flight crew leveled off at FL270 and contacted the FAs. The flight crew were informed that several passengers and FAs were injured during the event. The flight crew notified company dispatch and air traffic control (ATC) of the turbulence encounter and the injuries. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. After parking at the gate, emergency medical services (EMS) met the airplane and transported three FAs and four passengers to the hospital for examination. One FA was diagnosed with a right ankle fracture and underwent surgery. Ten minor injuries were also reported and there was no damage to the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8685B
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-8H4
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36723
- Built
- 2016
- Airframe hours
- 30,188
- Engines
- CFM Intl CFM56-7B27E, 27,300 lbs thrust, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-7B27E, 27,300 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 30, 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
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 8
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Waiver time limited special
- Last flight review
- June 17, 2025
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 8,835 total · 6,424 in this make and model · 2,833 as pilot in command · 101 in the last 90 days · 42 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 16, 2024
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 4,350 total · 880 in this make and model · 2,995 as pilot in command · 161 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- Serious
- Restraint
- None
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- Minor
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- Minor
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- Minor
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- Minor
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- Minor
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
- Wind
- 140° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 0.89 inHg
- Turbulence
- Severe
- Observed at
- KECP, 130 nm away
- METAR
- KECP 181453Z 14011KT 10SM BKN027 BKN033 31/23 A3012 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW SLP209 T03110233 51010
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.9 MB in all.