Boeing 737-724 accident near Winnie, Texas, June 13, 2012
On June 13, 2012 at about 1:17 am local time, a Boeing 737-724, registered N16709, was involved in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Winnie, Texas. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people were seriously injured; 79 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight crew's penetration of a rapidly developing thunderstorm cell in an area of forecasted convective activity. The serious injuries were the result of a misunderstanding between the captain and cabin crew regarding the potential for turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2012 · about 1:17 am local time
- Place
- Winnie, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 79 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-724 · all 737-724s on the register
- Registration
- N16709 · registry record · serial 28779
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight encountered an area of severe turbulence during the climb at about flight level 221 on departure that seriously injured two flight attendants (FA). The flight crew was aware of the forecasted convective conditions and potential for turbulence forecast along their route of flight. The captain and FAs differed in their recollection about the turbulence discussion during the pre-flight briefing. The FAs were not aware of the turbulence potential during the flight and began their service before the captain instructed them as he intended. The weather radar tilt setting of +1 degree used by the flight crew would be useful for detecting the tops of medium range and distant storms but would not be useful in detecting the rapidly developing nearby cells below and in front of the airplane. A negative tilt setting on the weather radar was recommended by the company to detect cells building in front of the airplane. As a result, the flight penetrated a rapidly developing area of "extreme" convective activity that produced severe convectively induced turbulence.
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 (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Issuing instructions › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,200 hours in all; 5,324 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 17,550 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 28, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with 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: 11,300 hours in all; 4,713 in this make and model; 197 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 1,230 as pilot in command; 806 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 2, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 46,487 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 14, 2012
- Seats: 124
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 33,063 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 44,666 hours total
- Operator: United Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: IAH Houston TX
- Destination: LGA La Guardia NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 76 |
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.