# Accident 19960323007359A: Boeing 757222, Taos, NM, March 23, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 1996, 09:20 local time
- Place: Taos, NM
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: UALA
- Location: 36.5991° N, 105.4499° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5991&lon=-105.4499&mi=10
- Aircraft: N503UA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N503UA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 757-222 (registry code 1384956, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-222) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PW2040 (registry code 52121, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw2040) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 757222
- Reported engine: PWA PW2037M
- People aboard: 140
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 17,804 total, 578 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA157) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960323007359A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT FLIGHT LEVEL 330, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED UNFORECASTED AND UNEXPECTED CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE. AN ELDERLY PASSENGER WHO WAS IN THE AISLE FELL AND STRUCK HER ARM ON A SEAT ARMREST. THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS OFF.                                                                  (-23) THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED UNFORECAST CLEAR AND TURBULENCE AND AN ELDERLY PASSENGER FELL IN THE AISLE ON HER WAY TO THE LAVATORY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW96LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA157), Mar 23, 1996: Boeing B-757-222 (N503UA), Taos, NM, no damage. Probable cause: an encounter with unforecasted clear air turbulence.

## Other reports on N503UA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19900213007179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900213007179I), Feb 13, 1990: Boeing 757222 (N503UA), Indianapolis, IN. Fire warning NR1 engine on descent. Landed safely. Found a faulty fire detection loop.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
