# NTSB DEN03LA142: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81, N814ME, Greeley, CO, August 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2003, 14:49 local (20:49 UTC) - Place: Greeley, CO - Coordinates: 40.44083, -104.670166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4408&lon=-104.6702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 3 minor, 113 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57671 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57671/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA142 ## Probable cause the inflight encounter with severe turbulence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (cause) ## Analysis During cruise flight at 33,000 feet, the aircraft encountered moderate to severe turbulence. The flight was deviating to the south of course to avoid weather. Upon breaking out of a cloud layer, the captain noted a cumulous cloud ahead that could not be avoided. Upon entering the cloud, they encountered severe turbulence, causing serious injury to 2 flight attendants and minor injuries to 3 passengers. Turbulence had not been forecasted. The seat belt sign had been illuminated for approximately 20 minutes. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2003, at 1449 mountain daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81, N814ME, registered to and operated by Midwest Airlines, Inc., as flight 9, encountered severe turbulence 5 miles north of the Gill VORTAC, Greeley, Colorado. The 2 pilots, 1 flight attendant and 110 passengers were uninjured; however, 2 flight attendants were seriously injured and 3 passengers received minor injuries. The scheduled domestic passenger flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at San Francisco, California, at approximately 1255. According to the captain, during cruise flight at 33,000 feet, the aircraft encountered moderate to severe turbulence. The flight was deviating to the south of course to avoid weather. Upon breaking out of a cloud layer, the captain noted a cumulous cloud ahead that could not be avoided. Upon entering the cloud, the airplane encountered severe turbulence. Turbulence had not been forecasted. The seat belt sign had been illuminated for approximately 20 minutes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N814ME](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N814ME-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 48010, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-81(MD-81)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-81-md-81) (registry code 3022081) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 48010 - Airframe hours: 45993.52 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217C 18000 lbs thrust turbo jet; Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 18000 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Midwest Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 2, 2003, 295.03 hours before - Departed: SFO, San Francisco, CA - Destination: MCI, Kansas City, KS - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 2, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 17,400 total, 11,900 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 44; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 28, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 15,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Visibility: 0 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -13 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg ## 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 20030807019999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030807019999A), Aug 7, 2003: Doug DC981, Cheyenne, WY. (-23) Captain is a check airman and was conducting initial operating experience with captain wulff (who is transitioning from the DC-9 to MD-80). As the flight… 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.