# NTSB BFO88LA061: Boeing 737, N9040U, Salisbury, MD, June 26, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1988, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Salisbury, MD
- Coordinates: 38.380641, -75.640892 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3806&lon=-75.6409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 106 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11422
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11422/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88LA061

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
- Miscellaneous/other, descent - normal
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, passenger (cause)
  - seat belt - not used, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

BEFORE THE FLT, THE CREW RECEIVED A SEVERE WX WARNING CONCERNING WX ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLT. THE CAPTAIN INFORMED THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO BE PREPARED TO HAVE PASSENGER SERVICE COMPLETED EARLY AND TO BE SEATED BEFORE THE DESCENT. BEFORE ENCOUNTERING TURBULENCE, THE CAPTAIN TURNED ON THE SEAT BELT SIGN AND MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE PASSENGERS SHOULD BE SEATED WITH THEIR BELTS FASTENED. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS. A FEMALE PASSENGER AND HER 4 YR OLD DAUGHTER LEFT THEIR SEATS SO THE CHILD COULD USE THE LAVATORY AT THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE. WHILE THEY WERE RETURNING TO THEIR SEATS, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FEMALE PASSENGER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9040U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9040U-1999-01-07), registration cancelled 1999-01-07, S/N 19078 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-222](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-222) (registry code 1384473) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19078
- Airframe hours: 37627
- Engines: P&W JT8D 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines, doing business as United Airlines
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 4, 1988, 82 hours before
- Departed: MCO, ORLANDO, FL
- Destination: IAD, WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 17,200 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 8,500 as pilot in command, 179 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Accident 19880626071089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880626071089A), Jun 26, 1988: Boeing 737222, Salisbury, MD. Entered area of known turbulence. Had seat belt sign on a passenger ignored warning walked to lav broke her leg.

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.

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