Boeing 737-8H4 accident near Lexington, Virginia, October 9, 2021
On October 9, 2021, a 2014 Boeing 737-8H4, registered N8642E, was involved in an accident during enroute near Lexington, Virginia. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 111 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2021
- Place
- Lexington, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 111 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-8H4, built 2014 · all 737-8H4s on the register
- Registration
- N8642E · no longer on the register · serial 42525
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was in cruise flight when it encountered convective turbulence at flight level (FL) 320. Weather conditions were dark moonless night with scattered storms visible on radar, but the crew reported no returns along their path. A Convective SIGMET was in effect for the area which forecast cloud tops to FL320. The cabin crew was conducting drink service. The flight crew stated they unexpectedly entered a cloud and experienced moderate to borderline severe turbulence. The C flight attendant fell and broke her 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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,629 hours in all; 4,320 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,400 hours in all; 2,658 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 174,200 lb
- Seats: 185
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KBWI Baltimore MD
- Destination: KATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from KLYH, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 106 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.