Boeing 737 accident near Bluefields, Ni, February 5, 2019
On February 5, 2019 at about 1:47 pm local time, a 2010 Boeing 737, registered N852NN, was involved in an accident during initial climb near Bluefields. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 117 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
- February 5, 2019 · about 1:47 pm local time
- Place
- Bluefields, Nicaragua · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 117 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 823, built 2010 · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- N852NN · registry record · serial 40581
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 5, 2019, about 0733 central standard time, American Airlines flight 1204, N852NN, a Boeing 737-823, encountered severe turbulence during climb. Of the 119 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant received a serious injury and another flight attendant received minor injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled international passenger flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) San Jose, Costa Rica, to Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami, Florida. The captain was the pilot flying and the copilot was pilot monitoring. The flight was climbing through FL310 to the planned cruising altitude when the flight encountered moderate to severe clear air turbulence. According to the flight crew, the seatbelt sign was on when the turbulence occurred. The turbulence subsided after about one and a half minutes and occurred during daylight, in visual meteorological conditions, and with no indications of convective weather in the area. At the time of the turbulence, two flight attendants (FA) had just started to prepare for beverage service in the aft galley when they were thrown to the floor. Both FAs crawled to the last row of seats as the turbulence continued. The two FAs were then assisted for the remainder of the flight by to passenger medical professionals. After landing, the FAs were transported to the hospital where one was diagnosed with a broken foot and the other with minor bruises.
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 initial climb 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; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,005 hours in all; 10,915 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 8, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,312 hours in all; 3,312 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 15, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 174,200 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm 56-7B (turbofan); 22,711 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm 56-7B (turbofan); 26,581 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: SJO Alajuela OF at 1:17 pm
- Destination: MIA Miami FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:33 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 113 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on February 25, 2022. 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 | Employee Statements - Captain | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Employee Statements - First Officer | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Employee Statements Fa No. 2 | PDF, 1 page | 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.