# NTSB FTW92LA142: Boeing 737-200, N67SW, Palacios, TX, May 15, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 14, 1992, 20:50 local (May 15, 1992, 01:50 UTC)
- Place: Palacios, TX
- Coordinates: 28.710926, -96.229927 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7109&lon=-96.2299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 113 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18504
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18504/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA142

## Probable cause

THE FLIGHT'S UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH MODERATE TURBULENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, descent - normal

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURBULENCE SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING THE CLOUDS IN DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS DURING A NORMAL DESCENT.  DURING THE ENCOUNTER, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT IN THE MID-CABIN AREA SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE WHEN SHE WAS THROWN TO THE FLOOR.  THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER, THE THREE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WERE UP AND IN THE PROCESS OF CLEARING THE CABIN IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING.  ALL OF THE PASSENGERS WERE SEATED.  ALTHOUGH THE TURBULENCE HAD BEEN MENTIONED IN THE FORECAST, THERE HAD BEEN NO PIREP ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67SW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67SW-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N 22356, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-200
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-2H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-2h4) (registry code 138448C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P-3948
- Airframe hours: 36420
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9 14500 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, May 13, 1992, 19 hours before
- Departed: HRL, HARLINGEN, TX
- Destination: HOU, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14,155 total, 226 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920514015949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920514015949A), May 14, 1992: Boeing 737200, Palacios, TX. Encountered jolting turbulence as aircraft entered unseen cloud at night during descent. Flight attendant injured.

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.