Boeing 737 7H4 N481WN

Summary

On 11 December 2014 at about 16:30 local time, a Boeing 737 7H4 registered N481WN, operated by Southwest Airlines, was involved in an accident near San Jose, California, United States. 81 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 December 2014 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

San Jose, California, United States

Coordinates

37.3628, -121.9292

Aircraft

Boeing 737 7H4

Registration

N481WN

Category

Airplane

Year built

2004

Engines

2

Operator

Southwest Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Los Angeles → San Jose

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA15CA050

1 person was seriously injured.

an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence during descent.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

On December 11, 2014, about 0830 pacific standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 154, a Boeing B737-7H4, N481WN, encountered turbulence during descent into Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, San Jose, California (SJC). The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 as a domestic passenger flight that originated from Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX) to. According to crew statements, the flight crew instructed the flight attendants (FA) to secure the cabin early due to anticipated storms and turbulence around SJC. The "B" FA stated that as she was cleaning the aft galley when the airplane experienced "several jolts" of turbulence.  She indicated that, while turning to sit down on the aft jumpseat, she twisted her left foot. The FA further stated that she was able to perform all required duties through the remainder of the flight and thought she only had a mild sprain. She did not inform the flight crew or other FAs of her injury.  After a week of continued pain and swelling she visited a podiatrist and was diagnosed with two fractured metatarsals in her left foot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.