Boeing 737-700 accident near Tacoma, Washington, May 22, 2022
On May 22, 2022 at about 3:00 am local time, a 2006 Boeing 737-700, registered N256WN, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Tacoma, Washington. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 66 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
During cruise flight with no reported turbulence a passenger sustained a serious injury for an unknown reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2022 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Tacoma, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 66 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-700, built 2006 · all 737-700s on the register
- Registration
- N256WN · registry record · serial 32514
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to a flight attendant (FA) on Southwest Airlines flight 2046, during cruise flight with no reported turbulence, she and several passengers noticed the forward lavatory was occupied for an unusually long time (10-15 minutes) requiring passengers to use the back lavatory. The FA realized the passenger had unlocked the lavatory door and cracked it open but did not exit. She knocked on the door and asked if everything was okay but there was no response. When the FA attempted to open the door, a female passenger started to exit the lavatory when she began to fall and grabbed on to the FA. The FA immediately requested for the front two passengers to assist her in getting the passenger up and moved to a seat. While assisting the passenger, the FA noticed the passenger’s foot was swollen and piece of bone was sticking through her skin. A volunteer medical professional who was onboard the airplane assisted and positioned the injured passenger in the front galley for landing. Emergency medical personnel met the airplane at the gate and transported the passenger to a local hospital.
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
- Cabin safety event during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › (general) › (general) › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,900 hours in all; 8,100 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 3,960 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,011 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 93 in the last 30 days; 5,145 as pilot in command; 806 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 52,645 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 15, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 155,000 lb
- Seats: 151
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KOAK Oakland CA at 1:30 am
- Destination: KBLI Bellingham WA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 3019.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 61 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 20, 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 | Flight Crew Statements | PDF, 2 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.