# NTSB BFO90LA043: Boeing B-737, N990UA, Washington, DC, May 11, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 11, 1990, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Washington, DC
- Location: 38.8951° N, 77.0364° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Washington, DC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8951&lon=-77.0364&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11592
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11592/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA043

## Probable cause

THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE, RESULTING IN INJURY TO A FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

## 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 - turbulence,clear air (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS DESCENDING THROUGH 8500 FT WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE, CAUSING A FLIGHT ATTENDANT TO FALL AND FRACTURE HER RIB. AT THE TIME SHE WAS PREPARING THE CABIN FOR LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N990UA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N990UA-2003-06-12), registration cancelled 2003-06-12, S/N 21980, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING B-737
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-291](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-291) (registry code 138448W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-17-series) (registry code 52049, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21980
- Airframe hours: 32031
- Engines: P&W JT8D-17 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 27, 1990, 98 hours before
- Departed: PVD, PROVIDENCE, RI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAD, Dulles Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; 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: 13,565 total, 3,115 in this make and model, 163 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19900511042579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900511042579A), May 11, 1990: Boeing 737291, Washington, DC. Encounteered unforecast clear air turbulence on descent. A flight attendant was seriously injured.

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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