# Accident 19980304010239A: Boeing 737242C, Reno, NV, March 4, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 4, 1998, 13:15 local time
- Place: Reno, NV
- Airport: Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: ASAA
- Location: 39.4802° N, 119.7407° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4802&lon=-119.7407&mi=10
- Aircraft: N746AS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737242C
- Reported engine: PWA JT8D17
- People aboard: 107
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA104) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980304010239A

## Narrative

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

ENCOUNTERED CAT ENROUTE AT FL350. DIVERTED TO RNO. FLIGHT ATTENDANT BROKE AN ANKLE. 7 PASSENGERS INJURED. (.4)THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED SEVER CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE EN ROUTE AT FLIGHT LEVEL 350.  THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE FROM OTHER PILOTS NOR WAS IT FORECASTED.  THE SEAT BELT SIGNS WERE OFF AT THE TIME.  A REVIEW OF THE FLIGHT RECORDER DATA INDICATED THAT, FOR THE PERIOD INVOLVED, VERTICAL ACCELERATION (NZ) VARIED FROM +1G TO +1.5G TO -0.07G TO +1.3G TO +0.86G OVER A 6-SECOND PERIOD.  THE RECORDED DATA ALSO INDICATED THAT ATMOSPHERIC STABILITY AT FLIGHT LEVEL 350 DURING THE SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO TURBULENT ONSET WAS SUCH THAT LITTLE OR NO WARNING WAS GIVEN TO THE FLIGHT CREW OF THE IMPENDING TURBULENT CONDITIONS.                                         (-23) ENROUTE SEATTLE TO LAS VEGAS @ 35,000 FEET IN CALM AIR. SUDDENLY HIT A POCKET OF EXTREME CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES NORTH WEST OF MUSTANG VOR. DIVERTED TO RENO TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ONE SERIOUS INJURY, FLIGHT ATTENDANT ANKLE BROKEN, ALL OTHER INJURED WERE EXAMINED AND RELEASED.

## 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 LAX98LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA104), Mar 4, 1998: Boeing 737-242C (N746AS), Reno, NV, no damage. Probable cause: Unforecasted and sudden encounter with clear air turbulence when passengers and flight attendants were not secured in their seats.

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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