# NTSB DCA25LA323: Boeing 737-7H4, N919WN, Port Orange, FL, September 12, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 12, 2025, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Port Orange, FL - Coordinates: 29.063393, -81.049117 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0634&lon=-81.0491&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, 134 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201001 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA323 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201001/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201001 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA323 ## Probable cause An encounter with convective turbulence during descent, which resulted in serious injuries to a flight attendant. ## 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. - [Enroute-descent: 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 4515, operating between Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI), Baltimore, Maryland, and Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando, Florida, encountered moderate turbulence while in descent to MCO. One flight attendant sustained a serious injury and one sustained a minor injury during the turbulence encounter. The aircraft continued to MCO and landed without further incident. The captain served as the flying pilot and the first officer as the pilot monitoring for the entire flight. Prior to the flight, the crew reviewed the dispatch release and weather forecasts, which indicated areas of isolated rain showers storms to the east of the intended route. The flight crew stated that the takeoff, climb and cruise were normal, with occasional light turbulence. The flight crew stated that they had turned on the seatbelt sign earlier in the flight, and kept it illuminated as they began the descent into MCO. The first officer stated he had WSI Pilotbrief weather radar and SkyPath active on his electronic flight bag (EFB) and did not notice any turbulence being depicted for the descent to the airport. Air traffic control (ATC) indicated that there was rain on the arrival route, and recent pilot reports (PIREPs) indicated rides were smooth. The captain instructed the flight attendants to ready the cabin for arrival as the aircraft descended through flight level 190. As the flight continued the approach, air traffic control provided vectors to steer the flight clear of showers that were developing ahead. At about 14,000 feet, while passing through a cloud layer, the airplane encountered turbulence that lasted for approximately 11 seconds. Flight data recorder data indicated a maximum vertical acceleration of 2.30 g followed by a minimum of 0.59 g about 1.1 seconds later. During that same time, lateral acceleration also varied between -0.09 g to 0.14 g. The autopilot remained engaged during the entire event. A National Weather Service convective Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) was valid for the time of the event for areas east of the intended route. Tracking data and weather radar showed the flight traversed to the west of the SIGMET area, and the turbulence encounter occurred as the flight entered an area of precipitation that had a radar indicated echo top of 25,000 feet. There were no PIREPs of any turbulence in the immediate area at the time of the encounter. A PIREP of moderate turbulence near the encounter location was reported over an hour prior to the event, and light turbulence PIREPs in the area within an hour of the encounter were at altitudes above and below the altitude of the accident flight. At the time of the turbulence encounter the flight attendants (FA) were cleaning and preparing the cabin for landing. Two FAs were thrown into the air and then onto the floor. The FA in the aft galley sustained a serious injury to her ankle and the other FA was in the aisle and injured her hip.Emergency personnel met the airplane at the gate and transported both FAs to the hospital. One FA was treated and released and the other diagnosed with a fracture and dislocation of her right ankle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N919WN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N919WN), registered now, S/N 36625, built 2008 (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 CFM56-7B24 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b24-series) (registry code 13044, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36625 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 56041 - Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 24200 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-7B24 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, September 7, 2025 - Departed: BWI, Baltimore, MD - Destination: MCO, Orlando, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 18,900 total, 13,000 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 30; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 21, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,000 total, 950 in this make and model, 1,430 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KMCO, 30 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201001. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20322158&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%20DCA25LA323%20SWA4515%20BWI-MCO_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight crew and flight attendant statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20298371&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Crew%20Statements%20DCA25LA323%20SWA%204515%20BWI-MCO-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.