Boeing 737-200 accident near Pensacola, Florida, November 7, 1995
On November 7, 1995 at about 8:56 pm local time, a Boeing 737-200, registered N312DL, was involved in an accident near Pensacola, Florida. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 58 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PASSENGER FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO BE SEATED AND UTILIZE A SEATBELT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IN FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 1995 · about 8:56 pm local time
- Place
- Pensacola, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 58 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-200 · all 737-200s on the register
- Registration
- N312DL · no longer on the register · serial 23084
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The crew stated they were descending from 18,000 feet to 10,000 feet with the seatbelt sign illuminated and an announcement to utilize the seatbelts was made, when they encountered a short incident of turbulence. One passenger was standing in the isle near the rear lavatory, and was thrown into the rear galley, breaking a leg.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,300 hours in all; 277 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31,550 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 2, 1995; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 115,500 lb
- Seats: 113
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-15A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Airlines INC.
The flight
- Departed from: DFW Dallas TX at 7:44 pm
- Destination: PNS FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 16 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from PNS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 53 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.