# NTSB ATL88IA241: Boeing 737-387, N353AU, Savannah, GA, August 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 1988, 15:59 local (19:59 UTC)
- Place: Savannah, GA
- Coordinates: 32.080951, -81.10054 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0810&lon=-81.1005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 13 minor, 81 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7644
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88IA241
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7644/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA241

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather radar - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE CRUISING AT FL 310, USAIR FLIGHT 333 ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED OBSERVING THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ON THE AIRBORNE RADAR. THE FLIGHT WAS WITHIN 20 MILES OF THE CELL BEFORE ACTION WAS TAKEN TO AVOID THE ENCOUNTER. THE RECOMMENDED PENETRATION AIRSPEED IS .70 MACH OR 280 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED MAINTAINING .76 MACH DURING THE ENCOUNTER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N353AU (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-387
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22953
- Engines: GE CFM 56-3/B2 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Usair
- Registered owner: Usair
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: PITT, PITTSBURGH, PA
- Destination: FLL, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14,700 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19880830070259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880830070259I), Aug 30, 1988: Boeing 737287, Savannah, GA. Severe turbulence injured a flight attendant. Was in area of known thunderstorms.

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.

---
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.