Boeing 737-724 accident near Mcallen, Texas, April 18, 2009
On April 18, 2009 at about 6:52 am local time, a Boeing 737-724, registered N27722, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Mcallen, Texas (Mcallen Miller International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 105 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The injured passenger's failure to comply with the requirement to remain seated with a fastened seatbelt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2009 · about 6:52 am local time
- Place
- Mcallen, Texas · Mcallen Miller International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 105 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-724 · all 737-724s on the register
- Registration
- N27722 · registry record · serial 28789
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before departure the captain briefed all crew members not to perform any services and remain in their jump seats for the duration of the flight due to the possibility of severe weather. The lead flight attendant then made a public address announcement to the passengers that due to possible bad weather there would be no service and the seat belt sign would remain on during the entire flight, stressing the need for the passengers to remain in their seats. In addition, the first officer made a similar announcement to the crew and passengers stressing the need to remain seated for their safety. While descending to the destination airport, a passenger who had gotten up and went into the lavatory sustained serious injuries when the airplane encountered an area of severe turbulence. In addition, two passengers and a flight attendant not wearing their seatbelts sustained minor injuries.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (descent) defining event
- Cabin safety event during enroute (descent)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Compliance w/ procedure
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Following instructions › Passenger
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 6,500 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 9, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,707 hours in all; 2,417 in this make and model; 217 in the last 90 days; 82 in the last 30 days; 2,450 as pilot in command; 1,063 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 149
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Continental Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KIAH Houston TX at 6:21 am
- Destination: KMFE Mcallen TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KFME
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 2 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 | 101 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.