# NTSB DCA18CA007: Boeing 767 328, N342AX, Honolulu, HI, October 15, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 15, 2017, 10:22 UTC - Place: Honolulu, HI - Coordinates: 21.317777, -157.920272 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3178&lon=-157.9203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 11 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 96188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18CA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96188/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96188 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA007 ## Probable cause an inadvertent encounter of clear air turbulence. ## 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 767-328, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1385290), [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-descent: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 767-328, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md?model=1385290), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md) ## Analysis On October 15, 2017, at about 1022 universal coordinated time , Omni Air International, LLC, Boeing B-767-300ER, N342AX, was enroute to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (DFS), Honolulu, Hawaii, when the flight encountered turbulence that caused serious injuries to one "deadheading" cabin crew member. None of the other 11 crew members were injured and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 between Osan Air Base (OSN), Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea, to DFS. As the flight was descending through about flight level 315 over the Pacific Ocean, approximately 117 miles from DFS, the airplane entered a thunderstorm cell and encountered severe turbulence that lasted about 30 seconds. When the turbulence was encountered, an off duty "deadheading" cabin crew member was in the aisle near the aft lavatory and was thrown to the floor injuring her right ankle. After being notified of the injury, the flight crew contacted telemedical advisory services via voice satellite communications and was provided medical direction to stabilize the injured crew member. Emergency medical personnel met the airplane on arrival and the injured crew member was transported to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with fractures in the right lateral and medial malleolus. Analysis of digital flight data retrieved from the Aeromechanical Systems Airborne Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) indicated that the airplane experienced vertical accelerations up to 1.78 g's and as low as 0.46 g's, with a change in rate of descent ranging from +240 feet per minute to -4,080 feet per minute. The flight crew reported no indication of precipitation or wind shear on the installed radar. The operator indicated that review of recorded telemetry reported by four other aircraft in the area equipped with The Weather Company Turbulence Auto-PIREP System (TAPS) showed no evidence of turbulence at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 2017, at about 1022 universal coordinated time , Omni Air International, LLC, Boeing B-767-300ER, N342AX, was enroute to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (DFS), Honolulu, Hawaii, when the flight encountered turbulence that caused serious injuries to one "deadheading" cabin crew member. None of the other 11 crew members were injured and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 between Osan Air Base (OSN), Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea, to DFS. As the flight was descending through about flight level 315 over the Pacific Ocean, approximately 117 miles from DFS, the airplane entered a thunderstorm cell and encountered severe turbulence that lasted about 30 seconds. When the turbulence was encountered, an off duty "deadheading" cabin crew member was in the aisle near the aft lavatory and was thrown to the floor injuring her right ankle. After being notified of the injury, the flight crew contacted telemedical advisory services via voice satellite communications and was provided medical direction to stabilize the injured crew member. Emergency medical personnel met the airplane on arrival and the injured crew member was transported to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with fractures in the right lateral and medial malleolus. Analysis of digital flight data retrieved from the Aeromechanical Systems Airborne Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) indicated that the airplane experienced vertical accelerations up to 1.78 g's and as low as 0.46 g's, with a change in rate of descent ranging from +240 feet per minute to -4,080 feet per minute. The flight crew reported no indication of precipitation or wind shear on the installed radar. The operator indicated that review of recorded telemetry reported by four other aircraft in the area equipped with The Weather Company Turbulence Auto-PIREP System (TAPS) showed no evidence of turbulence at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N342AX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N342AX-2026-09-29), registration cancelled 2026-09-29, S/N 27136, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 767 328 (328) - Registry model: [Boeing 767-328](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-767-328) (registry code 1385290) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF6-80C2B6F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-80c2b6f) (registry code 30109, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27136 - Year built: 1993 - Engines: GE CF6-80C2B6F 24995 horsepower turbo fan; GE CF6-80C2B6F 24995 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Omni Air International - Registered owner: Omni Aviation Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: RKSO, OSAN Air Base / Pyeongtaek - Destination: PHNL, Honolulu, HI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PHNL, Daniel K. Inouye International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 17, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 5,125 total, 1,595 in this make and model, 3,025 as pilot in command - Co-pilot; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2017; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Night ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96188. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485332&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.