# NTSB DCA16CA021: Boeing 787, N27958, Beaumont, TX, November 7, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 7, 2015, 05:00 local (11:00 UTC) - Place: Beaumont, TX - Coordinates: 29.760278, -95.36972 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7603&lon=-95.3697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 221 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 24, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 92303 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA16CA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92303/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92303 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA021 ## Probable cause An inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence resulting in serious injury to a flight attendant. ## 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 787-9, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1385609), [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-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 787-9, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1385609), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to crew statements, the flight encountered light turbulence while deviating around areas of weather depicted on the onboard weather radar during descent from FL350 to 12,000 feet. Air Traffic Control (ATC) had also advised them of areas of precipitation shown on ATC radar. The seatbelt sign was turned on and the flight crew advised the cabin crew to complete service and be seated for arrival. The flight was returning on course after it appeared they were clear of significant weather when they encountered an area of moderate turbulence and briefly encountered what the crew characterized as severe turbulence. A flight attendant (FA) in the aft galley was lifted into the air and fell back down to the floor injuring her ankle. The flight crew was notified of the injury and they requested paramedics meet the airplane upon arrival. The FA was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured ankle. ## Factual narrative According to crew statements, the flight encountered light turbulence while deviating around areas of weather depicted on the onboard weather radar during descent from FL350 to 12,000 feet. Air Traffic Control (ATC) had also advised them of areas of precipitation shown on ATC radar. The seatbelt sign was turned on and the flight crew advised the cabin crew to complete service and be seated for arrival. The flight was returning on course after it appeared they were clear of significant weather when they encountered an area of moderate turbulence and briefly encountered what the crew characterized as severe turbulence. A flight attendant (FA) in the aft galley was lifted into the air and fell back down to the floor injuring her ankle. The flight crew was notified of the injury and they requested paramedics meet the airplane upon arrival. The FA was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured ankle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27958](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27958), registered now, S/N 36406, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 787 - Registry model: [Boeing 787-9](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-787-9) (registry code 1385609) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE GENX-1B74/75/ series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-genx-1b74-75-series) (registry code 30222, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36406 - Year built: 2015 - Engines: GE GENX-1B74/75 turbo fan; GE GENX-1B74/75 turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: United Air Lines Inc - Registered owner: United Air Lines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: SBGL, Rio De Janeiro - Destination: KIAH, Houston, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 24, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 10,900 total, 360 in this make and model, 119 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 15, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 11,400 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 233 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; injuries: none; seat: center; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 1.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KBPT, 6 nm away ## 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 20151107018829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151107018829A), Nov 7, 2015: Boeing 787-9, Houston, TX, No damage. On nov 7, 2015, ual 128 encountered a short duration (1-2 sec) of severe turbulence at 11,000 feet while descending east of Bush International Airport. No… ## Other investigations on N27958 (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA25LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA173), Mar 27, 2025: Boeing 787 (N27958), Claveria, Philippines, no damage. Probable cause: An encounter with convective turbulence during cruise that was not detected in advance by cockpit weather radar or weather information services. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92303. 81.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Flight Crew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Crew%20Statements-Master.PDF - Cabin Crew Statements (item 3, .PDF, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements-Master.PDF - Weather Study - Excerpt from Weather Study for UAL Flight 128 (item 4, .PDF, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Study%20-%20Excerpt%20from%20Weather%20Study%20for%20UAL%20Flight%20128-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report (item 6, .PDF, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Data%20Recorder%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Flight Data Recorder Factual Report - Attachment 1-Rel (item 7, .CSV, 79.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443803&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Flight%20Data%20Recorder%20Factual%20Report%20-%20Attachment%201-Rel-Master.csv 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.