Boeing 737 accident near Denver, Colorado, September 29, 2022
On September 29, 2022 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2008 Boeing 737, registered N7881A, was involved in an accident during enroute near Denver, Colorado. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 140 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with clear air turbulence during cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2022 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 140 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 800, built 2008 · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- N7881A · registry record · serial 35084
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Southwest Airlines flight 48 encountered turbulence during cruise. One flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from the Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Missouri, to the Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado. According to the flight attendant, as she was pouring coffee into cups while in the front galley, the airplane encountered very light turbulence which she described as a ‘very light bump’. During the event, the coffee pot flipped over and spilled coffee onto the back of her hand, resulting in 2nd degree burns. After the event, the captain called back to the cabin to apologize for the turbulence and advised that it was unexpected. The flight attendant continued duties after the event, and there was no further turbulence. Prior to the flight, the captain discussed the possibility of turbulence during the preflight briefing, however the turbulence associated with the event was unannounced and unexpected.
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 › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,440 hours in all; 104 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 6,150 as pilot in command; 1,350 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 15, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 46,926 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 26, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 155,000 lb
- Seats: 148
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24/3 (turbofan); 44,452 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 54,537 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: MCI Kansas City MO at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 136 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2023. 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 | Crew Statements | 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.