# NTSB DCA26LA167: Boeing 787-9, N23994, Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), March 29, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 29, 2026
- Place: Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean)
- Coordinates: 27.8564, -128.887
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8564&lon=-128.8870&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, 164 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 20, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202721
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA26LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202721/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202721
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA167

## Probable cause

An unanticipated encounter with clear air turbulence while in cruise flight.

## 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 787-9, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1385609), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of meteorologic cond](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Flight crew; cases with it: [Boeing 787-9, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md?model=1385609), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of meteorologic cond](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Cabin crew; cases with it: [Boeing 787-9, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md?model=1385609), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/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 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

On March 29, 2026, about 1456 pacific daylight time (PDT), United Airlines flight 115, encountered moderate turbulence while in cruise flight at FL300 en route to Faa’a (Tahiti) International Airport (NTAA) Papeete, French Polynesia. Of the 164 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant sustained a serious injury. The flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled international passenger flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California to NTAA. According to the flight crew, dispatch had planned the flight at FL300 due to forecast turbulence between FL320 and FL380 off the California coast. After departure, the flight attendants remained seated until the airplane reached cruise altitude at FL300 and conditions were deemed suitable to begin cabin service. During the first 90 minutes of flight, the airplane encountered intermittent light turbulence, resulting in multiple communications with dispatch and periodic illumination of the seatbelt sign. Dispatch advised that the greatest turbulence risk was expected between latitudes 34°N and 30°N. About 95 minutes after departure, the airplane encountered a jolt of moderate clear air turbulence with no corresponding returns displayed at altitude on the onboard weather radar. The sudden encounter with moderate turbulence resulted in two flight attendants falling. The flight crew immediately directed the flight attendants to be seated and notified dispatch of the turbulence encounter. Dispatch advised that the airplane had recently crossed the subtropical jet stream, a condition unknown to the flight crew at the time. Shortly thereafter, the cockpit was informed that a flight attendant had been injured. Following notification of the injury, the flight crew coordinated with dispatch and MedLink and requested emergency medical services to meet the airplane upon arrival. A physician traveling onboard evaluated the injured flight attendant and recommended diagnostic imaging upon landing. The flight attendant was subsequently transported to a hospital, where they were diagnosed with a serious injury. At the time of the flight’s turbulence encounter there were no active inflight weather advisories or company issued advisories for the area.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23994](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23994), registered now, S/N 68622, built 2025 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 787-9
- Registry model: [Boeing 787-9](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-787-9) (registry code 1385609) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE GENX-1B76A/P2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-genx-1b76a-p2) (registry code 30231, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 68622
- Year built: 2025
- Airframe hours: 4347
- Engines: GE GENX-1B76AP2G01 76100 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE GENX-1B76AP2G01 76100 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines Inc
- Registered owner: United Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: San Francisco, CA
- Destination: Tahiti, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 6, 2026; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 14,500 total, 800 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 31; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2026; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,680 total, 145 in this make and model, 1,331 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days
- Other flight crew; flight hours: 10,118 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260329013029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260329013029A), Mar 29, 2026: Boeing 787-9, San Francisco, CA, No damage. While at cruise altitude, the flight encountered unexpected turbulence. The captain made an announcement for flight attendants to take their jumpseats. While…
- [Accident 20260329013039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260329013039A), Mar 29, 2026: Boeing 787-9, No damage. Once established at cruise at FL300, the captain kept the seat belt light illuminated and allowed the flight attendants to begin their service. Within the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202721. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20683509&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20DMS_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20683519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%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.

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