Medical Event: Boeing 737-700, N480WN; accident occurred July 01, 2022 at John Wayne Orange County Airport (KSNA), Santa Ana, California

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Hauf, Michael

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Southwest Airlines Co

https://registry.faa.gov/N480WN

Location: Santa Ana, California 

Accident Number: DCA22LA151

Date and Time: July 1, 2022, 17:21 Local

Registration: N480WN

Aircraft: Boeing 737-700 

Aircraft Damage: None

Defining Event: Medical event

Injuries: 1 Serious, 141 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air carrier - Scheduled

Analysis

A flight attendant was injured when Southwest Airlines Flight 2029 landed at the John Wayne Orange County Airport (KSNA), Santa Ana, California.

According to the flight crew, they were flying a visual approach to runway 20R at SNA. They were aiming for the touchdown zone due to its short runway and trying to fly the aircraft onto the runway with minimal floating. However, it ended up being a firm landing. Shortly after exiting the runway, the flight crew were informed that the “B” position flight attendant (FA) seated in the aft jump seat had injured her back on landing and required medical assistance.

According to the FA, after securing the galley and cabin for landing, she sat down in her jump-seat, secured her seatbelt harness, and got into the brace position. She indicated that the plane hit the ground with such force that she thought the plane had crashed. She immediately felt pain in her back, neck and she could not move. Paramedics evaluated her and transported her to a local hospital where she was later diagnosed with a compression fracture to her T3 vertebra.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

A flight attendant received a serious injury during landing.

Findings

Aircraft Landing flare - Unknown/Not determined

Personnel issues Illness/injury - Cabin crew

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-flare/touchdown Medical event (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Flight instructor 

Age: 55, Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None

Restraint Used: 5-point

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Second Pilot Present:

Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane

Toxicology Performed:

Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam: March 29, 2022

Occupational Pilot: Yes 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Flight Time: 17500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 6000 hours (Total, this make and model), 10500 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 120 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 60 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Co-pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport 

Age: 49, Female

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea

Seat Occupied: Right

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None

Restraint Used: 5-point

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Second Pilot Present:

Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine

Toxicology Performed:

Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations 

Last FAA Medical Exam: January 25, 2022

Occupational Pilot: Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Flight Time: 4553 hours (Total, all aircraft), 174 hours (Total, this make and model), 1877 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 174 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 66 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Cabin crew Information

Certificate: 

Age:

Airplane Rating(s):

Seat Occupied: Unknown

Other Aircraft Rating(s): 

Restraint Used: 4-point

Instrument Rating(s): 

Second Pilot Present:

Instructor Rating(s): 

Toxicology Performed:

Medical Certification: 

Last FAA Medical Exam:

Occupational Pilot: No 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Flight Time:

Cabin crew Information

Certificate: 

Age:

Airplane Rating(s):

Seat Occupied: Rear

Other Aircraft Rating(s): 

Restraint Used: 4-point

Instrument Rating(s): 

Second Pilot Present:

Instructor Rating(s): 

Toxicology Performed:

Medical Certification:

Last FAA Medical Exam:

Occupational Pilot: No 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Flight Time:

Cabin crew Information

Certificate: 

Age:

Airplane Rating(s): 

Seat Occupied: Unknown

Other Aircraft Rating(s): 

Restraint Used: 4-point

Instrument Rating(s): 

Second Pilot Present:

Instructor Rating(s): 

Toxicology Performed:

Medical Certification: 

Last FAA Medical Exam:

Occupational Pilot: No

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Boeing 

Registration: N480WN

Model/Series: 737-700 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 2004

Amateur Built:

Airworthiness Certificate: Transport 

Serial Number: 33998

Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle

Seats: 151

Date/Type of Last Inspection: June 29, 2022 Continuous airworthiness

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 155000 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection: 

Engines: 2 Turbo fan

Airframe Total Time: 60471 Hrs as of last inspection

Engine Manufacturer: CFM INTL.

ELT: C126 installed, not activated

Engine Model/Series: CFM56 SERIES

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power:  Lbs thrust

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: Flag carrier (121)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KSNA

Distance from Accident Site:

Observation Time: 22:53 Local 

Direction from Accident Site:

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear

Visibility 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling: None 

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  / None

Wind Direction: 210° 

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  / N/A

Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg 

Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 15°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

Departure Point: Oakland, CA (KOAK)

Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR

Destination: Santa Ana, CA (KSNA) 

Type of Clearance: VFR

Departure Time:

Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: John Wayne Orange County Airport (KSNA)

Runway Surface Type: Asphalt

Airport Elevation: 56 ft msl 

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 20R

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 5700 ft / 150 ft

VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious, 4 None

Aircraft Damage: None

Passenger Injuries: 137 None

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 141 None

Latitude, Longitude: 33.675701,-117.86799