FlarePathAir-accident investigation intelligence
Investigation brief · generated 2026-10-09 · source: NTSB public docket and accident database

BOEING 737-724 — McAllen, TX, USA, 2009-04-18

NTSB number
CEN09LA256
Operator
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES INC
Registration
N27722
Highest injury
Serious injury
Regulation
Part 121
Damage
—
Cohort
Part 121 airline
Recorder data
Tier 1 — decoded recorder tables
Every sentence below is taken directly from NTSB records — the accident database, the docket's recorder reports and the Board's findings — with its source noted. Nothing is paraphrased or inferred.

NTSB summary

Before departure the captain briefed all crew members not to perform any services and remain in their jump seats for the duration of the flight due to the possibility of severe weather. The lead flight attendant then made a public address announcement to the passengers that due to possible bad weather there would be no service and the seat belt sign would remain on during the entire flight, stressing the need for the passengers to remain in their seats. In addition, the first officer made a similar announcement to the crew and passengers stressing the need to remain seated for their safety. While descending to the destination airport, a passenger who had gotten up and went into the lavatory sustained serious injuries when the airplane encountered an area of severe turbulence. In addition, two passengers and a flight attendant not wearing their seatbelts sustained minor injuries.
Verbatim, NTSB aviation accident database (narratives.narr_accf).

Probable cause

The injured passenger's failure to comply with the requirement to remain seated with a fastened seatbelt.
Verbatim, NTSB determination.

Recorder documents in the docket

GroupTitlePagesType
fdrFlight Data Recorder Plot2pdf
fdrReports from Parties to the Investigation CO QAR reportxls

Docket: data.ntsb.gov/Docket/?NTSBNumber=CEN09LA256. This brief is an analytical aid assembled from public records; it is not an investigative finding.