# NTSB NYC06LA223: Boeing 737-700, N793SA, Hastings, NE, September 17, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 2006, 20:30 local (Sep 17, 2006, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Hastings, NE - Coordinates: 40.586112, -98.388336 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5861&lon=-98.3883&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 140 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Southwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines Pilot's Association, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64632/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA223 ## Probable cause The airplane's in flight encounter with thunderstorm related turbulence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was in cruise flight at 37,000 feet, and was approaching an area of thunderstorm activity. The seat belt sign was on, and the flight attendants were asked to return to their seats. The flight crew responded to a traffic collision alert by descending, and making a right turn, and then attempted to fly the best route through the weather; however, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence for about 30 seconds, and two flight attendants were injured, one seriously. The flight continued to its destination airport, and landed without further incident. Data from the airplane's flight data recorder indicated that the upset was consistent with the airplane's encounter with turbulence. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 2006, about 2030 central daylight time, a Boeing 737-700, N793SA, operated by Southwest Airlines as flight 2877, was not damaged when it encountered turbulence while in cruise flight near Hastings, Nebraska. The 2 airline transport rated flight crew members, 1 flight attendant, and 137 passengers were not injured. One flight attendant sustained serious injuries, and another flight attendant sustained minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Mc Carran International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada, destined for Albany International Airport (ALB), Albany, New York. The scheduled air carrier flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to the flight crew, the airplane was in cruise flight at 37,000 feet, and was approaching an area of thunderstorm activity. The seat belt sign was illuminated, and the flight attendants were asked to return to their seats. The Captain reported that he responded to a traffic collision alert by descending, and making a right turn. He then attempted to fly the best route through the weather; however, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence for about 30 seconds. According to a flight attendant, the Captain informed the flight attendants to be seated; however, before he could return to his seat, he and another flight attendant were repeatedly thrown from the floor to the ceiling, by severe turbulence. The other flight attendant sustained a fractured ankle and a head injury. The flight continued to ALB and landed without further incident. Southwest Airlines further reported that the traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) resolution advisory (RA) called for a descent for 10 seconds, and for a "Do Not Climb" for 17 seconds. Shortly after the TCAS reported "Clear of Conflict," the airplane encountered turbulence. The airplane's vertical acceleration during the event varied from 1.75 to 0.3gs. The lateral and longitudinal accelerations varied from +/- 0.2 gs, and +/- 0.1 gs; respectively. Data from the airplane's flight data recorder was downloaded by Southwest Airlines, and provided to the Safety Board for review. The data indicated that the upset was consistent with the airplane's encounter with turbulence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N793SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N793SA-2025-05-05), registration cancelled 2025-05-05, S/N 27888, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737-700 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-7H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7h4) (registry code 1384404) (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: 27888 - Airframe hours: 21363 - Engines: General Electric CFM-56-3B1 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CFM-56-3B1 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Southwest Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 1, 2006 - Departed: LAS, Las Vegas, NV - Destination: ALB, Albany, NY - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 24,440 total, 9,537 in this make and model, 14,361 as pilot in command, 207 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 35; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 2,540 total, 256 in this make and model, 2,188 as pilot in command, 158 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 16 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: OMA, 120 nm away ## 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 20060916018879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060916018879A), Sep 16, 2006: Boeing 7377H4, Omaha, NE. (-23) Enroute from las to alb, aircraft encountered moderate turbulence 70 miles north of oma at 37,000 feet. At that time, swa flight 2877 responded to a TCAS… 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.