Boeing 737 7H4 accident near Titusville, Florida, January 28, 2016
On January 28, 2016 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1998 Boeing 737 7H4, registered N718SW, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Titusville, Florida. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 143 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- January 28, 2016 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 143 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 7H4 7H4, built 1998 · all 737 7H4s on the register
- Registration
- N718SW · no longer on the register · serial 27852
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 15, 2016 at 6:15 pm eastern standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 1528, a Boeing 737-700, N718SW, encountered turbulence in the vicinity of Titusville, Florida during initial descent to Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida . Of the 144 passengers and crew members onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured and the airplane was not damaged. The airplane was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from T. F. Green Airport (PVD), Providence, Rhode Island. According to the operator, the flights routing passed east of Jacksonville, Florida over the Atlantic to the east of the Florida peninsula. A frontal system and jet stream stretched to the west and northwest of the flight's routing with turbulence forecast and reported on the western portions of the peninsula. The flight crew reported that they were in cruise at FL380 in smooth air but were aware of potential turbulence throughout the flight. Upon initial descent, the captain illuminated the fasten seat belt sign and advised the passengers to remain seated. While descending through approximately FL320, the airplane encountered turbulence in clear air lasting approximately 3 seconds. At the time of the turbulence encounter, two flight attendants (FA) were securing the aft galley for landing when one fell to the floor injuring her ankle. Medically trained passengers assisted the injured FA who could not complete her duties. The flight crew advised the FLL station of the event and requested medical assistance upon landing. The airplane landed at FLL with no further incident. The flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken ankle.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,300 hours in all; 14,500 in this make and model; 281 in the last 90 days; 92 in the last 30 days; 13,300 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 15, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,511 hours in all; 1,677 in this make and model; 224 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 1,975 as pilot in command; 245 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 11, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 154,500 lb
- Seats: 155
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KPVD Providence RI at 8:38 pm
- Destination: KFLL Ft. Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 2 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 139 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 31, 2016. 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 | Swa Weather Information and Summary | PDF, 58 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Crew 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.