# Accident 20141124022559A: Boeing 737-824, Valdosta, GA, November 24, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 2014, 14:18 local time
- Place: Valdosta, GA
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: CALA
- Location: 30.7806° N, 83.2797° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7806&lon=-83.2797&mi=10
- Aircraft: N16217, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16217) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-824 (registry code 13844BZ, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-824) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International CFM56 series (registry code 13802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-824
- Reported engine: CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES
- People aboard: 159
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 5
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA15CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA15CA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141124022559A

## Narrative

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

ON 11/24/2014, UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 1179, SRQ-ORD, A B-737 TYPE AIRCRAFT, ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE IN CRUISE FLIGHT RESULTING IN A SERIOUS INJURY TO A FLIGHT ATTENDANT.  THE FLIGHT HAD JUST SWITCHED ATC CONTROLLERS WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT FL340 NEAR VALDOSTA, VORTAC, VALDOSTA, GEORGIA.  WHILE DEVIATING AROUND A CELL WITH GREEN RADAR RETURNS, ATC REPORTED AN AIRCRAFT AHEAD EXPERIENCED MODERATE TURBULENCE.  THE SEATBELT SIGN HAD ALREADY BEEN ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE ATC TURBULENCE REPORT BEING RECEIVED.  UPON HEARING OF THE ATC REPORT, THE CAPTAIN CALLED THE FORWARD FLIGHT ATTENDANT ON THE INTERPHONE AND DIRECTED THEM TO SUSPEND SERVICE AND TAKE THEIR JUMP SEATS. THE FORWARD FLIGHT ATTENDANT WALKED BACK TO THE MAIN CABIN AND COMMUNICATED THIS INFORMATION TO THE OTHER FLIGHT ATTENDANTS. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS STATED THEY BEGAN TO MOVE THE SERVICE CARTS TO THE AFT GALLEY.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FIRST OFFICER MADE A PA ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PASSENGERS EXPLAINING THE EXPECTED TURBULENCE AND ALSO DIRECTING THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO BE SEATED IMMEDIATELY.  WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE PA ANNOUNCEMENT SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE ENCOUNTER RESULTED IN A FLIGHT ATTENDANT SUSTAINING FRACTURED VERTEBRAE.

## 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 DCA15CA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA15CA035), Nov 24, 2014: Boeing 737 824 (N16217), Valdosta, GA, no damage. Probable cause: an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence while the flight attendants were returning to 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.

---
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.