# NTSB DCA25LA241: Boeing 737-8H4, N8685B, Barlow Bend, AL, June 18, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 18, 2025, 15:14 UTC - Place: Barlow Bend, AL · Lat/Long from 6120 - Coordinates: 31.448, -87.613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4480&lon=-87.6130&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 10 minor, 167 uninjured - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 200379 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200379/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200379 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA241 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with unanticipated turbulence during descent, resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-8H4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=138440A), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8685B), registered now, S/N 36723, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 737-8H4 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-8H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8h4) (registry code 138440A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-7B27E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b27e-series) (registry code 13078, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36723 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 30188 - Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B27E 27300 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B27E 27300 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; 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 - Co-pilot; age 43; injuries: none; 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 - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; restraint: none - Cabin crew; injuries: minor; restraint: 5-point - Cabin crew; injuries: minor; restraint: 5-point - Cabin crew; injuries: minor; restraint: 5-point - Cabin crew; injuries: minor - 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 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200379. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19626999&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20DCA25LA241_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19613642&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SWA311%20Crew%20Statements_final%20version_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.