# NTSB DCA11CA060: Boeing 757, N623DL, Boone, NC, May 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2011, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Boone, NC - Coordinates: 36.364723, -81.579719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3647&lon=-81.5797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 185 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 79212 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA11CA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79212/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79212 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA11CA060 ## Probable cause Inadvertant encounter with convective turbulence while in cruise. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the unrestrained status of the passenger, contrary to the lighted seat belt sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 757-232, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1384965), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 757-232, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=1384965), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 757-232, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1384965), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On May 23, 2011 at about 1520 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 757-223, N623DL, operated by Delta Airlines as flight 2001, encountered turbulence while in cruise flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport(ATL), Atlanta, Georgia. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight. One passenger was seriously injured and one of the 4 flight attendants experienced a minor injury. None of the 2 flight crew, other 3 flight attendants, or other 180 passengers was injured. The airplane was not damaged, and continued the flight to Atlanta. The flight crew reported that while in cruise flight at FL340, approximately 200 miles northeast of the destination, they were in an area of forecast convective weather and were maneuvering between two cells when they inadvertantly entered the edge of a cumulus buildup at the time of the turbulence. The seat belt sign was illuminated at this time, but the passenger was out of her seat and fell, resulting in a broken ankle. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2011 at about 1520 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 757-223, N623DL, operated by Delta Airlines as flight 2001, encountered turbulence while in cruise flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport(ATL), Atlanta, Georgia. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight. One passenger was seriously injured and one of the 4 flight attendants experienced a minor injury. None of the 2 flight crew, other 3 flight attendants, or other 180 passengers was injured. The airplane was not damaged, and continued the flight to Atlanta. The flight crew reported that while in cruise flight at FL340, approximately 200 miles northeast of the destination, they were in an area of forecast convective weather and were maneuvering between two cells when they inadvertantly entered the edge of a cumulus buildup at the time of the turbulence. The seat belt sign was illuminated at this time, but the passenger was out of her seat and fell, resulting in a broken ankle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N623DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N623DL-2019-03-06), registration cancelled 2019-03-06, S/N 22913, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 757 (232) - Registry model: [Boeing 757-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-232) (registry code 1384965) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW2037](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw2037) (registry code 52117, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22913 - Airframe hours: 61801 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney 2037 37000 lbs thrust turbo fan; 2037 37000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Airlines - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: KBOS, Boston, MA - Destination: KATL, Atlanta, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KATL, Atlanta ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review April 30, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 13,532 total, 128 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review May 16, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 9,604 total, 96 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79212. 965 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349241&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Operations 2 - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operations%202%20-%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Operations 2 - Copilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operations%202%20-%20Copilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Meteorology 5 - Met Package (item 4, .PDF, 626 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Meteorology%205%20-%20Met%20Package-Master.PDF - Survival Factors 6 - FA Statements (item 5, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349246&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Survival%20Factors%206%20-%20FA%20Statements-Redacted.PDF 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.