# Accident 19970611015669A: Boeing 737291, Albuquerque, NM, June 11, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 11, 1997, 11:35 local time
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: UALA
- Location: 35.0609° N, 106.6196° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0609&lon=-106.6196&mi=10
- Aircraft: N980UA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N980UA-2006-06-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-291 (registry code 138448W, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-291) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series (registry code 52048, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737291
- Reported engine: PWA JT8D9A
- People aboard: 107
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 80 in this make and model, 78 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA215) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970611015669A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING THROUGH FL180 WHEN THE CREW WAS ADVISED OF REPORTED LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE IN THE AREA. THE CAPTAIN INSTRUCTED PASSENGERS AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO RETURN TO THEIR SEATS AND FASTEN THEIR SEATBELTS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. BEFORE GETTING INTO HER SEAT AND RESTRAINING HERSELF, A FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS INJURED WHEN SHE STRUCK HER BACK AGAINST A SEAT ARMREST. X-RAYS LATER REVEALED THAT SHE HAD FRACTURED A BONE IN HER SHOULDER. (-23) ON JUNE 11, 1997, APPROXIMATELY 1135 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BOEING 737-291, N980UA, OPERATED BY UNITED AIR LINES, INC., AS FLIGHT 441, SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH 5 MILES WEST OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.  ONE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED CAPTAIN AND FIRST OFFICER, TWO OTHER FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, AND 103 PASSENGERS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE SCHEDULED DOMESTIC PASSENGER FLIGHT OPERATED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 121. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT DENVER, COLORADO, ON JUNE 11, APPROXI                             MATELY 1035.

## 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 FTW97LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA215), Jun 11, 1997: Boeing 737-291A (N980UA), Albuquerque, NM, no damage. Probable cause: the sudden encounter with clear air turbulence.

## Other reports on N980UA (3)

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

- [Incident 19950209004069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950209004069I), Feb 9, 1995: Boeing 737291 (N980UA), Wichita, KS. Narrative: united airline flight 356 enroute from Wichita, Kansas, to chicago, Illinois returned to Wichita because APU fire warning light illuminated ten…
- [Incident 19921228053899I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921228053899I), Dec 28, 1992: Boeing 737291 (N980UA), Boise, ID, Minor damage. On push back had smoke in cabin. Returned to gate. Found burnt wiring on relay R803. Replaced relay and wiring.
- [Incident 19890215009159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890215009159I), Feb 15, 1989: Boeing 737291 (N980UA), San Antonio, TX. APU fire warning on approach. Landed without incident. No evidence of fire. Replaced APU fire warning element.

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.

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