Orlando International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Valdosta, Georgia 31601
Friday, February 22, 2008 20:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Boeing 737-700 was at an altitude 30,0000 feet, and on the arrival approach for landing, when it encountered unexpected turbulence. The pilot flying stated that the turbulence was at least moderate in intensity and lasted for about 10 seconds. The autopilot remained engaged. The seat belt sign was illuminated and the flight attendants were securing the cabin for landing. One flight attendant was thrown against a wall and sustained a fractured ankle. The airplane subsequently landed without further incident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An unexpected encounter with turbulence, while on approach for landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/22/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Valdosta
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31601
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 295812N
Event Location Longitude 0822624W
Event Location Airport Orlando International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MCO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 175
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 96
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2003 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID VLD
Elevation of weather observation facility 203
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 2800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 102
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23465
NTSB Notification Source SWA/NTSB SCRA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 29 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2008 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Southwest CMO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N551WN
NTSB Number NYC08CA115
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Boeing
Aircraft Model 737-700
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 30280
Certified Max Gross Weight 154500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 136
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 18985
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Wells Fargo Bank NW NA Trustee
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Salt Lake City
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84111
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Southwest Airlines Co.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Dalllas
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code 752235
Operator Code SWAA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MCI
Departure City Kansas City
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1808
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MCO
Destination City Orlando
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 13 2008 8:36PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --