# NTSB DCA14CA014: Boeing 767 322, N665UA, Houston, TX, October 18, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 18, 2013, 05:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.762777, -95.383056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7628&lon=-95.3831&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, 227 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88458
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA14CA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88458/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88458
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA14CA014

## Probable cause

The airplane's inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence during cruise flight, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.

## 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 767-322, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1385200), [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 767-322, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md?model=1385200), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While cruising at FL360 in smooth air conditions with no storms in the vicinity, the airplane experienced a 3 to 5 second encounter with clear air turbulence. The seatbelt sign was illuminated at the time. During the event a flight attendant fell and fractured her ankle. Following the brief turbulence encounter, the flight returned to smooth air conditions and later landed uneventfully at its intended destination.

## Factual narrative

While cruising at FL360 in smooth air conditions with no storms in the vicinity, the airplane experienced a 3 to 5 second encounter with clear air turbulence. The seatbelt sign was illuminated at the time. During the event a flight attendant fell and fractured her ankle. Following the brief turbulence encounter, the flight returned to smooth air conditions and later landed uneventfully at its intended destination.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N665UA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N665UA), registered now, S/N 29237, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 767 322 (322)
- Registry model: [Boeing 767-322](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-767-322) (registry code 1385200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw4000-series) (registry code 52119, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 29237
- Year built: 1998
- Airframe hours: 55168
- Engines: P&W PW4000 SER 24900 horsepower turbo fan; P&W PW4000 SER 24900 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Na Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 21, 2013
- Departed: SAEZ, Buenos Aires
- Destination: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, private, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2012; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 13,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 270° at 70 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Turbulence: Moderate

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88458. 396 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Flight Attendants Statements (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Attendants%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.

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