- Date
- October 24, 2015, 09:35 local (14:35 UTC)
- Place
- Plevna, KS
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor, 183 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N69838Boeing 737-924ER
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 24, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- FAA report
- 20151024023799A
- Case key
- 92227
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to flight crew statements, possible moderate turbulence was forecasted for portions of the route of flight and they briefed the flight attendants (FA) of the possible turbulence. During the first portion of the flight, several areas of turbulence were encountered. The seatbelt sign was turned on during this time and the captain told the FAs to suspend service and remain seated. The flight crew requested and was cleared to a lower altitude and the turbulence subsided. After the flight was in smooth air for several minutes, the captain advised the FAs they could leave their seats but not use the carts. About five minutes later the flight again encountered moderate to severe turbulence. The captain called the cabin and discovered two FAs in the aft galley had sustained injuries during the encounter but could continue their duties to the destination. After arrival, the FAs were transported to the hospital where one was diagnosed with a tibia plateau fracture.
Factual narrative
According to flight crew statements, possible moderate turbulence was forecasted for portions of the route of flight and they briefed the flight attendants (FA) of the possible turbulence. During the first portion of the flight, several areas of turbulence were encountered. The seatbelt sign was turned on during this time and the captain told the FAs to suspend service and remain seated. The flight crew requested and was cleared to a lower altitude and the turbulence subsided. After the flight was in smooth air for several minutes, the captain advised the FAs they could leave their seats but not use the carts. About five minutes later the flight again encountered moderate to severe turbulence. The captain called the cabin and discovered two FAs in the aft galley had sustained injuries during the encounter but could continue their duties to the destination. After arrival, the FAs were transported to the hospital where one was diagnosed with a tibia plateau fracture.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N69838
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-924ER (924)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 60121
- Built
- 2014
- Engines
- CFM Intl CFM56-7B27E, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-7B27E, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- United Air Lines Inc
- Registered owner
- United Air Lines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- DEN · Denver, CO
- Destination
- MCO · Orlando, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Equipment
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 14, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 21,000 total · 13,500 in this make and model · 11,000 as pilot in command · 210 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 34
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 28, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 6,020 total · 1,214 in this make and model · 1,023 as pilot in command · 180 in the last 90 days · 63 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Turbulence
- Severe
- Observed at
- KHUT, 25 nm away
Docket · 8
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 25, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 14.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.