Probable cause
the catering agent's lack of situational awareness when exiting the airplane that resulted in a serious injury.
NTSB analysis
On February 11, 2017, about 1950 mountain standard time, Southwest Airlines flight 4152, a Boeing 737-700, N7822A, had a catering agent fall from the airplane while alongside provisioning the airplane. On board were the captain, first officer, three flight attendants and several passengers. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona, to Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Sacramento, California.
According to Southwest Airlines, while passengers were boarding the airplane at the gate, a catering agent returned to the airplane to provide a box of peanuts. The agent stopped the provisioning truck short of the airplane creating a gap between the truck and the airplane. After entering the airplane to deliver the peanuts, the agent lost situational awareness and stepped backwards, falling through the gap, and suffered a fractured rib.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA17CA072 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 12, 2017
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Boeing 737 76N
- N-number
- N7822A
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2001
- Operating rule
- Part 121 (airline)
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.