- Date
- February 22, 2008, 20:00 local (Feb 23, 2008, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Valdosta, GA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 102 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N551WNBoeing 737-700
- Defining event
- Approach: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report April 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Southwest CMO
- FAA report
- 20080222839409I
- Case key
- 67594
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
An unexpected encounter with turbulence, while on approach for landing.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The Boeing 737-700 was at an altitude 30,0000 feet, and on the arrival approach for landing, when it encountered unexpected turbulence. The pilot flying stated that the turbulence was at least moderate in intensity and lasted for about 10 seconds. The autopilot remained engaged. The seat belt sign was illuminated and the flight attendants were securing the cabin for landing. One flight attendant was thrown against a wall and sustained a fractured ankle. The airplane subsequently landed without further incident.
Factual narrative
The Boeing 737-700 was at an altitude 30,0000 feet, and on the "PIGLT1" arrival to Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando, Florida, when it encountered unexpected turbulence. The pilot flying stated that the turbulence was at least moderate in intensity and lasted for about 10 seconds. The autopilot remained engaged. The seat belt sign was illuminated and the flight attendants were securing the cabin for landing. One flight attendant was thrown against a wall and sustained a fractured ankle. The airplane subsequently landed at MCO without further incident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N551WN
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-700
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30280
- Airframe hours
- 18,985
- Engines
- CFM International CFM56-7B22, 24,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanCFM International CFM56-7B22, 24,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Southwest Airlines Co., doing business as Southwest Airlines
- Registered owner
- Wells Fargo Bank NW NA Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · February 1, 2008
- Departed
- MCI · Kansas City, MO
- Destination
- MCO · Orlando, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MCO · Orlando International
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 5,500 in this make and model · 6,500 as pilot in command · 240 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2007
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 7,292 total · 1,092 in this make and model · 4,000 as pilot in command · 190 in the last 90 days · 49 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- VLD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N551WN · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.