# NTSB DCA10FA076: Boeing 767, N184DN, Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), July 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2010, 02:00 local (02:00 UTC) - Place: Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean) - Coordinates: 14.082145, 144.79521 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=14.0821&lon=144.7952&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 201 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 76666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA10FA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76666/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA10FA076 ## Probable cause an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 767-332, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1385101), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 767-332, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md?model=1385101), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the captain of the flight, at the time of the turbulence encounter he was navigating around scattered cloud build-ups. Nothing was showing on radar. The injured flight attendant stated that she was walking down the aisle between the mid galley and the aft galley and fell to the floor at the time of the turbulence encounter. According to the operator, no turbulence was forecast for the area in which the airplane was flying at the time of the turbulence encounter. In addition, satellite imagery revealed that the airplane was in an area not conducive to turbulence when the event occurred. According to the flight data recorder, the vertical acceleration during the turbulence encounter varied between +1.5 g and -0.3 g. The encounter lasted about 5 seconds. ## Factual narrative History of Flight: On July 15, 2010, at about 0200 UTC, a Boeing 767-332ER, registered in the United States as N184DN and operated by Delta Airlines, encountered turbulence at flight level 360 near TOESS intersection north of Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) Guam. One flight attendant suffered a broken ankle during the turbulence event. The flight had departed GUM at 1125 UTC and landed at Narita International Airport (NRT), its original destination, at 0344 UTC. None of the other 192 passengers or 9 crewmembers were injured. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121, and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan, and flying in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the event. According to the captain of the flight, at the time of the turbulence encounter he was navigating around scattered cloud build-ups. Nothing was showing on radar, as he adjusted the antenna tilt between -1 and -5 degrees. At that time the seatbelt sign was not illuminated. According to the injured flight attendant, she was walking down the aisle between the mid galley and the aft galley and fell to the floor at the time of the turbulence encounter. Injuries: None of the other 9 crewmembers or the 192 passengers were injured. Damage to Airplane: The airplane was not damaged. Meteorological Information: According to the operator, no turbulence was forecast for the area in which the airplane was flying at the time of the turbulence encounter. In addition, satellite imagery revealed that the airplane was in an area not conducive to turbulence when the event occurred. Medical and Pathological Information: The injured flight attendant was examined by a physician passenger who did not provide a diagnosis. She declined medical treatment upon arrival at Narita and proceeded to her home base of Minneapolis before seeking further medical advice. Upon arrival home, she saw a doctor who stated that her ankle was broken. Flight Data Recorder: According to the flight data recorder, the vertical acceleration during the turbulence encounter varied between +1.5 g and -0.3 g. The encounter lasted about 5 seconds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N184DN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N184DN-2026-08-18), registration cancelled 2026-08-18, S/N 27111, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 767 (332ER) - Registry model: [Boeing 767-332](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-767-332) (registry code 1385101) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw4000-series) (registry code 52119, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: GUM, Hagatna - Destination: NRT, Narita - Flight plan: IFR ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day 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.