B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Time Pressure
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Weather
At cruise altitude 40;000 FT; autopilot on; encountered severe turbulence. Dark night; no warning; no radar returns. Lost 500 FT during recovery. Seat belt sign was on. No one hurt onboard. Continued to our filed destination.
[Narrative #2 contains no additional information].
A B737-800 encountered severe turbulence at FL400 with no warning or radar returns and lost 500 FT during the recovery with no injuries.