# NTSB FTW87LA082: Boeing 737-300, N314SW, Midland, TX, March 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1987, 18:00 local (Mar 17, 1987, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Midland, TX
- Location: 31.9973° N, 102.0779° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Midland, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9973&lon=-102.0779&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 58 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22342
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22342/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA082

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,seat belt - unlocked (cause)
  - equipment,other - delayed, flight attendant (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE PENETRATING A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS AT 35,000 EN ROUTE TO MIDLAND, TX, FROM DALLAS, TX, SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED. ONE FLIGHT ATTENDANT HAD JUST SAT DOWN BUT HAD NOT FASTENED HIS SEAT BELT AND WAS THROWN TO THE FLOOR SUSTAINING SERIOUS INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N314SW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N314SW-2012-05-18), registration cancelled 2012-05-18, S/N 23336, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-300
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-3H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3h4) (registry code 138447K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23336
- Airframe hours: 2866
- Engines: GE CFM-56-3-B1 20000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Southwest Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 12, 1987
- Departed: DAL, DALLAS, TX
- Destination: MAF, MIDLAND, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,965 total, 8,040 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MAF, 200 nm away

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.

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