Boeing 737 7H4 accident near Charlotte, North Carolina, December 23, 2015
On December 23, 2015 at about 7:16 am local time, a 2004 Boeing 737 7H4, registered N475WN, was involved in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Charlotte, North Carolina. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 141 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2015 · about 7:16 am local time
- Place
- Charlotte, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 141 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 7H4 7H4, built 2004 · all 737 7H4s on the register
- Registration
- N475WN · registry record · serial 32474
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 23, 2015, at about 00:30 central daylight time, Southwest Airlines flight 834, a Boeing 737-700, N475WN, encountered clear air turbulence while descending for approach to Charlotte/Douglas Intl (KCLT), Charlotte, North Carolina. Of the 142 passengers and crewmembers onboard, one flight attendant received serious injuries and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Chicago Midway Intl (KMDW), Chicago, Illinois, to KCLT. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the "B" flight attendant (FA) was securing the galley for landing when she was thrown into the air and landed on the metal part of the galley. She was unable to stand back up on her own and required assistance from the other FAs. After landing the injured FA was transported to a local hospital upon arrival to KCLT where she was diagnosed with a broken foot
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
- Clear air turbulence encounter during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,300 hours in all; 15,100 in this make and model; 256 in the last 90 days; 84 in the last 30 days; 13,100 as pilot in command; 2,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 30, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40,928 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 22, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 154,500 lb
- Seats: 151
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 46,153 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 11,136 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KMDW Chicago IL at 5:24 am
- Destination: KCLT Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; a few clouds at 900 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 am from CLT, 240 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 2 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 137 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 13, 2018. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Employee Statements | PDF, 3 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.