Boeing 737 76Q accident near San Diego, California, April 14, 2016
On April 14, 2016 at about 11:24 pm local time, a 2002 Boeing 737 76Q, registered N565WN, was involved in an accident during standing near San Diego, California (San Diego International Airpor airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 121 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the ramp agents failure to keep his right hand at a safe distance from the underside of the moving belt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2016 · about 11:24 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · San Diego International Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 121 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 76Q 76Q, built 2002 · all 737 76Qs on the register
- Registration
- N565WN · no longer on the register · serial 30282
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On Thursday, April 14, 2016, at approximately 1624 PDT a Southwest Airlines' ramp agent incurred a serious injury to his right arm and hand during the baggage unloading process at San Diego International Airport (KSAN), San Diego, California. Flight 3060 from Albuquerque International Sunport (KABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico, arrived into Gate 2 at 1617 PDT, at which time ground personnel positioned a beltloader adjacent to the forward cargo bin entry door and began offloading baggage from the aircraft. Two Agents toward the forward portion of the aircraft were discussing their plan to unload a heavy powered wheelchair out of the forward cargo bin. One agent was situated in the cargo bin, while the other was on the ground to the left side of the beltloader. Based on a review of video footage, as they were talking, the agent on the ground was observed placing and removing his hand on the top of the running belt in a recurring motion. He then placed his hand at the bottom of the belt and appeared to attempt the same behavior (riding his hand on the belt). Moments later the ramp agent's arm became lodged in the beltloader, and he immediately fell to the ground. Other ramp personnel immediately became aware of the situation and attempted to aid the ramp agent. The beltloader was turned off with the ramp agent's arm still lodged inside the belt loader. A ramp supervisor obtained a pair of scissors and cut the belt on the beltloader off. However, the ramp agent was still not able to free himself. The supervisor quickly retrieved tools, removed the belt's access panel and roller bolts, and finally freed the ramp agent's arm from the belt. Paramedics arrived moments later. The ramp agent was examined in the ambulance and then taken to the hospital. The ramp agent sustained a burn on his forearm, a three-inch laceration on his hand, and a broken right wrist. It is unknown why the ramp agent decided to place his hand on the underside of the beltloader. Southwest Airlines has precautions and established procedures for ramp operations that is contained in their ground operations manual.
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
- Ground handling event during standing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Unnecessary action › Ground crew
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 154,500 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B22 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B22 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KABQ Albuquerque NM at 9:55 pm
- Destination: KSAN San Diego CA
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 116 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on April 2, 2020. 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 |
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.