Narrative:

Report of severe turbulence with possible flap overspd. Inbound to slc conditions: 160 broken; 10 SM visibility; winds 280 degrees at 24 KTS gusting to 41 KTS. Front over airport resulting in wind shift from south to northwest in about a 30 min time frame. Windshear advisories in effect. Vector at 15000 ft to join ILS runway 34R about 20 mi. Altitude 15000 ft to about 9500 ft continuous light chop. At 9500 ft; turbulence suddenly turned severe. Airplane shaken violently and airspeed +/-20 KTS. At that time; flaps at 5 degrees and airspeed about 190 KTS. Attempted to continue lower for potential smoother air. Informed ATC. They said 'roger.' down to about 8000 ft and began go around. Severe turbulence continued to about 10000 ft then went to moderate. Vectored for about 10 mins until conditions improved. Conclusion: we were unaware of the severe turbulence. We prepared for possible windshear and moderate turbulence; however; ATC never informed us that aircraft had already executed go around's the last 20 or so mins for the same reason. Had they said so; we would not have attempted such approach. Report filed for the lack of ATC communication prior to the approach and the possible flap overspds that may have occurred momentarily although we could not confirm during flight. Also flight attendants in the rear jumpseat say they may have slight back injuries as jumpseat bounced them up and down. Maintenance also notified and in the log for severe turbulence.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURB APCHING SLC RESULTING IN A GAR. ATC GAVE NO WARNING THAT PREVIOUS ACFT WENT AROUND FOR TURB.

Narrative: RPT OF SEVERE TURB WITH POSSIBLE FLAP OVERSPD. INBOUND TO SLC CONDITIONS: 160 BROKEN; 10 SM VISIBILITY; WINDS 280 DEGS AT 24 KTS GUSTING TO 41 KTS. FRONT OVER ARPT RESULTING IN WIND SHIFT FROM S TO NW IN ABOUT A 30 MIN TIME FRAME. WINDSHEAR ADVISORIES IN EFFECT. VECTOR AT 15000 FT TO JOIN ILS RWY 34R ABOUT 20 MI. ALT 15000 FT TO ABOUT 9500 FT CONTINUOUS LIGHT CHOP. AT 9500 FT; TURB SUDDENLY TURNED SEVERE. AIRPLANE SHAKEN VIOLENTLY AND AIRSPD +/-20 KTS. AT THAT TIME; FLAPS AT 5 DEGS AND AIRSPD ABOUT 190 KTS. ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE LOWER FOR POTENTIAL SMOOTHER AIR. INFORMED ATC. THEY SAID 'ROGER.' DOWN TO ABOUT 8000 FT AND BEGAN GAR. SEVERE TURB CONTINUED TO ABOUT 10000 FT THEN WENT TO MODERATE. VECTORED FOR ABOUT 10 MINS UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVED. CONCLUSION: WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE SEVERE TURB. WE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE WINDSHEAR AND MODERATE TURB; HOWEVER; ATC NEVER INFORMED US THAT ACFT HAD ALREADY EXECUTED GAR'S THE LAST 20 OR SO MINS FOR THE SAME REASON. HAD THEY SAID SO; WE WOULD NOT HAVE ATTEMPTED SUCH APCH. RPT FILED FOR THE LACK OF ATC COM PRIOR TO THE APCH AND THE POSSIBLE FLAP OVERSPDS THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED MOMENTARILY ALTHOUGH WE COULD NOT CONFIRM DURING FLT. ALSO FLT ATTENDANTS IN THE REAR JUMPSEAT SAY THEY MAY HAVE SLIGHT BACK INJURIES AS JUMPSEAT BOUNCED THEM UP AND DOWN. MAINT ALSO NOTIFIED AND IN THE LOG FOR SEVERE TURB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.