SERS · BOEING 737-524 · 2008-12-21 · Denver, CO, USA
Event
NTSB number
DCA09MA021
Event ID
20081221X14648
Type
Accident
Date
2008-12-21
Location
Denver, CO, USA
Coordinates
39.75061, -105.000831
Injuries
Highest injury
SERS
Fatal
0
Serious
6
Minor
41
Uninjured
68
Total aboard
115
Aircraft
Make
BOEING
Model
737-524
Registration
N18611
FAR Part
121
Engines
2
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
—
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The captain’s cessation of right rudder input, which was needed to maintain directional control of the airplane, about 4 seconds before the excursion, when the airplane encountered a strong and gusty crosswind that exceeded the captain’s training and experience. Contributing to the accident were the following factors: 1) an air traffic control system that did not require or facilitate the dissemination of key, available wind information to the air traffic controllers and pilots; and 2) inadequate crosswind training in the airline industry due to deficient simulator wind gust modeling.