Investigation brief · generated 2026-10-09 · source: NTSB public docket and accident database
BOEING 737 — Kaycee, WY, USA, 2014-02-17
NTSB number
DCA14LA060
Operator
Continental Airlines
Registration
N23708
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
The flight departed normally and climbed to its cruising altitude where it encountered light turbulence. The flight crew descended to a lower altitude twice in an effort to find a smooth ride. The flight encountered an area of severe mountain wave turbulence when the flight was cruising at flight level (FL) 340 in smooth air with the seat belt sign off seriously injuring two flight attendants.
According to the NTSB weather study, an Airman's Meteorological Information (AIRMET) for moderate turbulence for altitudes between FL270 and FL390 was issued at 0745 MST for a region that included the accident location. The flight dispatch release for the accident aircraft, which included weather information, included a Flight Planning Guidance product from WSI that advised of light/occasional moderate mountain wave activity between FL310 and FL390 close to where the accident occurred.
an encounter with severe mountain wave turbulence during cruise flight.
Verbatim, NTSB determination.
Flight data recorder
Boeing 737-700 · N23708 — 328,573 samples, 29 parameters, 12:08:00.0 to 13:23:00.9.
Parameter
Max
at
Min
at
Final
at
Pressure altitude ft
37,954.0
12:36:01.7
3,682.0
13:21:35.7
3,836.0
13:23:00.7
Computed airspeed kts
325.5
13:04:37.7
45.0
12:08:00.7
45.0
13:23:00.7
Vertical acceleration g
2.1
12:54:42.4
-1.2
12:54:41.4
1.1
13:23:00.9
Computed from the docket's tabular attachment; times as recorded (local or SRN as published).
Sequence of events (FDR factual report)
Time
Event
Page
12:08:00 MST
Start of plotted flight data (figures 1 and 2 cover the entire flight from 12:08:00 MST to 13:23:00 MST)
2
12:54:37 MST
About 44 minutes after takeoff, vertical acceleration variations began, ranging between 2.05 g and -1.23 g before settling to 1 g at 12:55:22; pressure altitude started at about 34,000 ft and decreased to about 33,000 ft
3
12:54:50 MST
Autopilot command-B (AP Cmd-B) transitioned from Selected to Not Selected
3
12:55:22 MST
Vertical acceleration variations ended, settling to 1 g; position at the -1.23 g point was approximately 43.7200193 N, 106.962891 W
3
12:57:58 MST
2 minutes 36 seconds after vertical acceleration settled, AP Cmd-B transitioned back to Selected and pressure altitude decreased to about 32,000 ft
3
13:01:29 MST
Aircraft descended for landing
3
about 13:21 MST
Aircraft landed, approximately 20 minutes after beginning the descent
3
Extracted by claude-fable-5-1 (in-session); 7 of 7 stated events verified against the raw recorder data.