# NTSB DCA18CA299: Boeing 757, N13113, Newark, NJ, September 24, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 23, 2018, 21:45 local (Sep 24, 2018, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Newark, NJ - Coordinates: 40.692501, -74.168609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6925&lon=-74.1686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 176 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 8, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 98424 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18CA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98424/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98424 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA299 ## Probable cause the catering cart striking the flight attendant's foot. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 757-224, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=1384958), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 757-224, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=1384958), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) ## Analysis On September 23, 2018, at about 2145 EDT, United flight 138, Boeing B757-224, N13113, was in the process of boarding at Newark International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey when a flight attendant was struck by a catering cart. Of the 177 passengers and crew who were scheduled to be onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured. The flight was scheduled as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 international passenger flight from EWR to Reykjavik-Keflavak International Airport (KEF), Keflavak, Iceland. During the initial boarding process, the resupplying of the catering was still ongoing. As the caterer personnel was quickly pushing a catering cart throught the aisle the flight attendant's foot was struck by the cart as it passed by. The flight attendant was injured, but thought his foot was only bruised, so he remained onboard to work the flight. During the flight, the flight attendant's foot became more painful, which required him to elevate his foot for short periods of time. After arrival at KEF, the injured flight attendant went to a local hospital and was diagnosed with a fractured heel. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 2018, at about 2145 EDT, United flight 138, Boeing B757-224, N13113, was in the process of boarding at Newark International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey when a flight attendant was struck by a catering cart. Of the 177 passengers and crew who were scheduled to be onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured. The flight was scheduled as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 international passenger flight from EWR to Reykjavik-Keflavak International Airport (KEF), Keflavak, Iceland. During the initial boarding process, the resupplying of the catering was still ongoing. As the caterer personnel was quickly pushing a catering cart throught the aisle the flight attendant's foot was struck by the cart as it passed by. The flight attendant was injured, but thought his foot was only bruised, so he remained onboard to work the flight. During the flight, the flight attendant's foot became more painful, which required him to elevate his foot for short periods of time. After arrival at KEF, the injured flight attendant went to a local hospital and was diagnosed with a fractured heel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13113](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13113), registered now, S/N 27555, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 757 (224) - Registry model: [Boeing 757-224](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-224) (registry code 1384958) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce RB-211 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-rb-211-series) (registry code 54555, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27555 - Year built: 1995 - Engines: Rolls-Royce RB.211 turbo fan; Rolls-Royce RB.211 turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: United Airlines - Registered owner: United Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: EWR, Newark, NJ - Destination: BIKF, Reykjavik - Airport: EWR, Newark Liberty Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 11,140 total, 9,838 in this make and model, 931 as pilot in command, 174 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,103 total, 1,103 in this make and model, 202 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Not reported ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98424. 639 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9637398&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20UAL%20FLT%20138%2023SEP18%20-%20Serious%20Injury%20-%20Flight%20Attendant%20Foot%20Injury-Rel.pdf - Captain's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9637228&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=UAL%20FLT%20138%2009SEP18%20Flight%20Attendant%20Foot%20Injury%20CA%20Michael%20Ladeau%20Statement-Rel.pdf - First officer statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9637230&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=UAL%20FLT%20138%2009SEP18%20Flight%20Attendant%20Foot%20Injury%20FO%20Steven%20Jamison%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Flight attendant statements (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9650979&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=UAL%20FLT%20138%2023SEP18%20Flight%20Attendant%20Foot%20Injury%20Cabin%20Crew%20Statements-Rel.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.