- Date
- July 7, 1994, 16:59 local (21:59 UTC)
- Place
- South Bend, IN
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 104 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N60SWBoeing 737-2H4
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 19109
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 encounter with unforcasted and unreported turbulence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A flight attendant working in the aft galley fell to the floor seriously injuring her back when the aircraft encountered turbulence. According to the flight crew, radar was used to avoid weather as the aircraft approached South Bend, Indiana. There had been no pilot reports of turbulence, and the company dispatcher weather package did not report turbulence. As the flight climbed through FL200, moderate turbulence was encountered for several seconds. The aircraft then entered visual meteorological conditions and smooth air. The captain stated that the unexpected turbulence started and stopped so quickly that he did not have time to warn the flight attendants. The seat belt sign was illuminated at the time the turbulence was encountered.
Factual narrative
On July 7, 1994, at 1659 central daylight time, a Boeing 737-2H4, N60SW, encountered moderate turbulence near South Bend, Indiana. One flight attendant was seriously injured. Four crew members and 100 passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed for Southwest Airlines Flight 1490, scheduled Title 14 CFR Part 121 flight to Cleveland-Hopkins International (CLE) Airport, Ohio.
According to the pilot/operator report, radar was used to avoid weather as the aircraft approached South Bend, Indiana. There had been no pilot reports of turbulence and the company dispatcher weather package did not report turbulence. As the flight climbed through FL200, moderate turbulence was encountered for several seconds. The aircraft then entered visual meteorological conditions and smooth air.
The captain stated that the unexpected turbulence started and stopped so quickly that he did not have time to warn the flight attendants. A flight attendant in the aft galley fell to the floor injuring her back. A paramedic on the flight assisted the flight attendant. The seat belt sign was illuminated at the time the turbulence was encountered.
The captain made the decision to continue to their destination because the weather they had passed through was getting worse, and the flight attendant's injury was not thought to be severe. As the flight approached Cleveland (CLE) thunderstorms were developing over the airport causing landing delays, so the flight was diverted to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit, Michigan. Paramedics met the airplane at the gate and transported the flight attendant to the hospital.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N60SW
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-2H4
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21812
- Engine
- P&W JT8D-9(A), 14,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Southwest Airlines, Co.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MDW · Chicago, IL
- Destination
- CLE · Cleveland, OH
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,000 total · 5,000 in this make and model · 3,500 as pilot in command · 260 in the last 90 days · 85 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg