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B737 flight crew reported experiencing moderate to severe turbulence and a possible lightning strike during vectors for landing at aus.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1653965 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201906 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | AUS.Airport |
| State Reference | TX |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 99 Flight Crew Type 2941 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 201 Flight Crew Total 5500 Flight Crew Type 1959 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Speed All Types Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
With one [air carrier] flight going missed and diverting to gray and several wind shifts and runway changes; we were now on downwind for 35L at austin. Following another [air carrier] flight; another wind shift occurred and [the airliner] went missed. We then asked for a turn back to the north side of austin. With the autopilot on and in a left turn; we hit; what at the time we called; severe turbulence. It only lasted about a second. The autopilot and auto throttles kicked off; we lost a few hundred feet and got a bank angle alert. I took control of the aircraft; rolled the wings level and continued heading north. It took a few moments to regain our situational awareness after the jolt we had just experienced. We put the flaps up and got the speed and altitude back under control. All systems and flight controls functioned normally. We [advised ATC] and initially wanted to divert to gray. We checked with the flight attendants for any injuries and they reported none. After messaging dispatch; it was decided that the best course of action was to return to ZZZ. I again checked with the flight attendants regarding injuries; still none to report. I made a public address announcement to inform the passengers that we were returning to ZZZ. We made a normal landing and taxi into the gate. At the gate; I again asked the flight attendants if there were any injuries and again; they had none to report. I spoke with dispatch and [flight operations] via phone to fill them in on what happened. I believe it is possible that we encountered a lightning strike and not severe turbulence. I believe that I forgot to tell the flight attendants about [advising ATC] and notifying passengers that emergency safety equipment would be standing by.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737 flight crew reported experiencing moderate to severe turbulence and a possible lightning strike during vectors for landing at AUS.
Narrative: With one [air carrier] flight going missed and diverting to Gray and several wind shifts and runway changes; we were now on downwind for 35L at Austin. Following another [air carrier] flight; another wind shift occurred and [the airliner] went missed. We then asked for a turn back to the north side of Austin. With the autopilot on and in a left turn; we hit; what at the time we called; severe turbulence. It only lasted about a second. The autopilot and auto throttles kicked off; we lost a few hundred feet and got a bank angle alert. I took control of the aircraft; rolled the wings level and continued heading north. It took a few moments to regain our situational awareness after the jolt we had just experienced. We put the flaps up and got the speed and altitude back under control. All systems and flight controls functioned normally. We [advised ATC] and initially wanted to divert to Gray. We checked with the flight attendants for any injuries and they reported none. After messaging Dispatch; it was decided that the best course of action was to return to ZZZ. I again checked with the flight attendants regarding injuries; still none to report. I made a public address announcement to inform the passengers that we were returning to ZZZ. We made a normal landing and taxi into the gate. At the gate; I again asked the flight attendants if there were any injuries and again; they had none to report. I spoke with Dispatch and [Flight Operations] via phone to fill them in on what happened. I believe it is possible that we encountered a lightning strike and not severe turbulence. I believe that I forgot to tell the flight attendants about [advising ATC] and notifying passengers that emergency safety equipment would be standing by.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.