# NTSB DEN82IA098: Douglas DC-8-61, N8088U, Near Goshen, IN, May 27, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1982, 09:27 local (15:27 UTC)
- Place: Near Goshen, IN
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 17 minor, 129 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82IA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71867/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82IA098

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
  - descent - uncontrolled
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause)

## Analysis

THIS AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED UNFORECAST SEVERE CLEAR AIR TURBULANCE (CAT) WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT FL350 NEAR GOSHEN, IN. AS A RESULT OF THE ENCOUNTER, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT WHICH WAS ARRESTED AT 31,500 FEET. A TOTAL OF SEVENTEEN PASSENGERS AND FIVE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND AIRWORTHY. THE ONLY WARNING THAT THE CREW HAD AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF CAT WAS A PIREP, PASSED ON BY THE CENTER CONTROLLER, THAT REPORTED MODERATE OR LESS TURBULANCE IN THE AREA. AFTER THE ENCOUNTER THE FLIGHT CONTINUED UNEVENTFULLY TO DENVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8088U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-8-61
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 45978
- Engines: P&W JTD-3B turbo jet
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines Inc.
- Registered owner: United Airlines Inc.
- Departed: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 60 statute miles

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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