Boeing 737 accident near Yuma, Arizona, April 1, 2011
On April 1, 2011 at about 10:57 pm local time, a Boeing 737, registered N632SW, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Yuma, Arizona (Yuma International Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people had minor injuries; 120 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the improper installation of the fuselage crown skin panel at the S-4L lap joint during the manufacturing process, which resulted in multiple site damage fatigue cracking and eventual failure of the lower skin panel. Contributing to the injuries was flight attendant A's incorrect assessment of his time of useful consciousness, which led to his failure to follow procedures requiring immediate donning of an oxygen mask when cabin pressure is lost.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2011 · about 10:57 pm local time
- Place
- Yuma, Arizona · Yuma International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 120 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 300 · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- N632SW · no longer on the register · serial 27707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/reports_aviation.html. The Aircraft Accident Brief number is NTSB/AAB-13/02. On April 1, 2011, about 1558 mountain standard time (MST), a Boeing 737-3H4, N632SW, operating as Southwest Airlines flight 812 experienced a rapid decompression while climbing through flight level 340. The flight crew conducted an emergency descent and diverted to Yuma International Airport (NYL), Yuma, Arizona. Of the 5 crewmembers and 117 passengers on board, one crewmember and one nonrevenue off-duty airline employee passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage; postaccident inspection revealed that a section of fuselage skin about 60 inches long by 8 inches wide had fractured and flapped open on the upper left side above the wing. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, to Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento, California.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of procedures › Cabin crew
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Fuselage main structure › Incorrect service/maintenance
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 139,500 lb
- Seats: 149
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm 56 (turbofan); 74,316 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm 56 (turbofan); 58,220 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Destination: SMF Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 2 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 116 |
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.