Aviation Investigation Final Report

Location: Highland Meadows, New Mexico Accident Number: DCA24LA290

Date & Time: August 19, 2024, 13:45 Local Registration: N7734H

Aircraft: Boeing 737 Aircraft Damage: None

Defining Event: Turbulence encounter Injuries: 1 Serious, 92 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air carrier - Scheduled

Analysis

On August 19, 2024, at 1345 mountain daylight time, Southwest Airlines flight 1768
encountered turbulence during descent into Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ),
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The flight was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Los
Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California to ABQ. As a result of the
turbulence, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries.
The flight crew reported that the enroute weather was visual meteorological conditions, mostly
clear skies, with occasional light chop turbulence. They had been monitoring their electronic
flight bag applications for turbulence forecasts, one of which predicted an area of moderate
turbulence about 80 miles prior to the top of descent. The captain asked the cabin crew to sit
down for about 10 minutes as they transited that area, during which the turbulence was also
occasional light chop.
During the descent, at an altitude of about 12,000 ft, the aircraft experienced what the captain
described as 2-3 seconds of moderate turbulence as the airplane flew through a cirrus cloud.
The first officer recalled that it was the only cloud in the vicinity and described the turbulence
(as they flew through it) as “light chop”.
After landing, the C flight attendant told the captain that during the turbulence, both of her feet
left the floor momentarily, and that she landed awkwardly on her feet. The cabin crew left the
airplane for their overnight. Shortly after, the B flight attendant returned to the airplane and told
the flight deck crew that flight attendant C was having difficulty walking. She was later
diagnosed with a fractured left tibia.
A post-accident review of weather records revealed that a convective significant
meteorological information (SIGMET) was in effect for an area surrounding the accident,

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warning of either existing or expected thunderstorms. Convective SIGMETS imply the
possibility of severe or greater turbulence. There were no airman’s meteorological information
(AIRMETS) in effect for the accident area, and no pilot reports (PIREPS) reporting any
turbulence within 150 miles of the accident location. Satellite imagery near the time of the
accident showed areas of cumulous clouds to the west and southwest of ABQ, in the area of
the accident. The convective conditions and presence of cumulous clouds near the accident
were consistent with convectively induced turbulence.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

An encounter with convectively induced turbulence during descent.

Findings
Environmental issues Convective turbulence - Effect on personnel

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Factual Information

History of Flight
Enroute-descent Turbulence encounter (Defining event)

Pilot Information
Certificate: Airline transport Age: 48,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine land Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Last FAA Medical Exam: July 22, 2024
waivers/limitations
Occupational Pilot: Yes Last Flight Review or Equivalent: May 20, 2024
Flight Time: (Estimated) 7000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 4000 hours (Total, this make and model), 3500 hours
(Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 170 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 55 hours (Last 30 days, all
aircraft), 8 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Co-pilot Information
Certificate: Airline transport Age: 35,Female
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine Seat Occupied: Right
land
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations Last FAA Medical Exam: June 7, 2024
Occupational Pilot: Yes Last Flight Review or Equivalent: May 14, 2024
Flight Time: (Estimated) 6554 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3718 hours (Total, this make and model), 599 hours
(Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 314 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 101 hours (Last 30 days,
all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

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 Cabin crew Information
Certificate: Age:
Airplane Rating(s): Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Cabin crew Information

Certificate: Age:
Airplane Rating(s): Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Cabin crew Information

Certificate: Age:
Airplane Rating(s): Seat Occupied: None
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

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 Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Boeing Registration: N7734H
Model/Series: 737 7BD Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2006 Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Transport Serial Number: 33923
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle Seats: 150
Date/Type of Last August 16, 2024 Continuous Certified Max Gross Wt.: 155000 lbs
Inspection: airworthiness
Time Since Last Inspection: Engines: 2 Turbo fan
Airframe Total Time: 58599 Hrs as of last Engine Manufacturer: CFM INTL
inspection
ELT: C126 installed, not activated Engine Model/Series: CFM56-7B24
Registered Owner: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO Rated Power: 24000 Lbs thrust
Operator: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO Operating Certificate(s) Flag carrier (121)
Held:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KABQ,5314 ft msl Distance from Accident Site: 28 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 13:52 Local Direction from Accident Site: 74°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 10000 ft AGL Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots / None Turbulence Type / Unknown
Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 220° Turbulence Severity / Moderate
Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.26 inches Hg Temperature/Dew Point: 33°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Albuquerque, NM (ABQ) Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 12:21 Local Type of Airspace: Unknown

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 Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious, 4 None Aircraft Damage: None
Passenger 88 None Aircraft Fire: None
Injuries:
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 92 None Latitude, 34.9,-107.15(est)
Longitude:

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 Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Brazy, Douglass
Additional Participating AVP110; FAA; Washington, DC
Persons:
Original Publish Date: January 16, 2025
Last Revision Date:
Investigation Class: Class 4
Note: The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Investigation Docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194995

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with
investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation—
railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents
and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we
conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and
survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions
involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and
we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.

The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation,
“accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are
not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve
transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition,
statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a
civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A
factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.

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