# NTSB DCA15CA035: Boeing 737 824, N16217, Valdosta, GA, November 24, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 24, 2014, 19:20 UTC - Place: Valdosta, GA - Coordinates: 30.780555, -83.279724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7806&lon=-83.2797&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, 12 minor, 146 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 90493 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA15CA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90493/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90493 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA15CA035 ## Probable cause an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence while the flight attendants were returning to their seats. ## 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 737-824, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=13844BZ), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/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 737-824, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=13844BZ), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110); cases with it: [Boeing 737-824, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=13844BZ), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) ## Analysis While in cruise at FL340 and experiencing occasional light chop, the flight crew was notified by ATC of pilot reports of moderate turbulence along their route of flight. The seatbelt sign was on and the captain advised the flight attendants (FA) to stow galley carts and be seated. The first officer subsequently made a PA announcement to advise passengers to remain seated with seatbelts fastened and for FAs to be seated immediately. Soon after this, the airplane encountered turbulence, categorized by the flight crew as severe, which resulted in altitude fluctuation ± 300 feet. The FAs were in the process of returning the meal service carts to the aft galley when the turbulence was encountered and reported that they, along with the service carts, were lifted off the floor about three times. One FA reported being thrown into the ceiling and back to the seats and floor. The lead FA advised the flight crew that some of the passengers and FAs had received minor injuries but none requested medical attention. The flight continued to ORD and landed uneventfully and emergency medical met the airplane at the gate as a precautionary measure. After returning home, one flight attendant was diagnosed with a fractured lumbar vertebra. ## Factual narrative While in cruise at FL340 and experiencing occasional light chop, the flight crew was notified by ATC of pilot reports of moderate turbulence along their route of flight. The seatbelt sign was on and the captain advised the flight attendants (FA) to stow galley carts and be seated. The first officer subsequently made a PA announcement to advise passengers to remain seated with seatbelts fastened and for FAs to be seated immediately. Soon after this, the airplane encountered turbulence, categorized by the flight crew as severe, which resulted in altitude fluctuation ± 300 feet. The FAs were in the process of returning the meal service carts to the aft galley when the turbulence was encountered and reported that they, along with the service carts, were lifted off the floor about three times. One FA reported being thrown into the ceiling and back to the seats and floor. The lead FA advised the flight crew that some of the passengers and FAs had received minor injuries but none requested medical attention. The flight continued to ORD and landed uneventfully and emergency medical met the airplane at the gate as a precautionary measure. After returning home, one flight attendant was diagnosed with a fractured lumbar vertebra. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16217](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16217), registered now, S/N 28777, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 737 824 (824) - Registry model: [Boeing 737-824](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-824) (registry code 13844BZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28777 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES turbo fan; CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: United Air Lines Inc - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL - Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,100 total, 6,653 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2014; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 7,500 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Turbulence: Severe ## 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 20141124022559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141124022559A), Nov 24, 2014: Boeing 737-824, Valdosta, GA, No damage. On 11/24/2014, united airlines flight 1179, srq-ord, a B-737 type aircraft, encountered severe turbulence in cruise flight resulting in a serious injury to a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90493. 885 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 599 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Captain Statement (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Captain%20Statement-Master.PDF - First Officer Statement (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431386&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=First%20Officer%20Statement-Master.PDF - Flight Attendants Statements (item 4, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431387&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Attendants%20Statements-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.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.