# NTSB CHI88IA081: Boeing 767-200, N308AA, Cimarron, NM, March 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1988, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Cimarron, NM
- Coordinates: 35.129798, -106.749328 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1298&lon=-106.7493&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor, 208 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13990
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88IA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13990/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88IA081

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - in-flight weather advisories - issued, atc personnel(artcc)
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - seat belt sign - discontinued, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE IN NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT AT FL 370, THE FLT CREW WAS ADVISED BY ARTCC PERSONNEL THAT OTHER AIRCRAFT WERE EXPERIENCING OCCASIONAL SEVERE TURBULENCE AT FL 370 ALONG THEIR ROUTE OF FLIGHT. A DESCENT WAS MADE TO FL 330 TO AVOID TURBULENCE. LATER, AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS CRUISING AT FL 330 WITH THE SEAT BELT SIGN OFF, IT ENCOUNTERED 'SEVERE CHOP WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE, IN CLEAR AIR.'  ONE FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE INJURED DURING THE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ITS DESTINATION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N308AA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 767-200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22314
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7 40550 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines
- Registered owner: American Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport
- Departed: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR

## 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: 17,000 total, 1,331 in this make and model, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 95 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880324021749I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880324021749I), Mar 24, 1988: Boeing 767223, Cimarron, NM. Encountered severe clear air turbulence en route at FL330 injuring 2 passengers and a flight attendant.

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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