Boeing 737 - 932ER accident near San Diego, California, March 5, 2014
On March 5, 2014 at about 7:00 am local time, a 2013 Boeing 737 - 932ER, registered N809DN, was involved in an accident during prior to flight near San Diego, California (San Diego International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 186 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight attendant's inadvertent trip and fall over a passenger bag that was in the aisle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2014 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · San Diego International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 186 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 - 932ER 932ER, built 2013 · all 737 - 932ERs on the register
- Registration
- N809DN · registry record · serial 31915
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 4, 2014, about 2300 Pacific standard time, a flight attendant (FA) on Delta Air Lines flight 1248, a Boeing 737-900ER, N809DN, tripped over a passenger's bag while the passengers were boarding at San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Diego, California. The captain stated that he and the first officer were in the cockpit performing preflight duties as passengers were boarding. He said he heard a crash and looked back and saw that the lead FA had tripped over a passenger bag. The lead FA stated that she was carrying a tray with pre-departure drinks in the First Class cabin when she tripped over a passenger's bag that was in the aisle. She stated that the tray had obscured her view of the floor. The FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken arm.
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
- Cabin safety event during prior to flight defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › (general) › (general) › Cabin crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,264 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 20, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,064 hours in all; 1,668 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 885 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 1, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 188,200 lb
- Seats: 189
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm International CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 885 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm International CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 885 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
The flight
- Departed from: SAN San Diego CA
- Destination: DTW Detroit MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 am from SAN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 4 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 180 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 19, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.