# NTSB FTW96LA157: Boeing B-757-222, N503UA, Taos, NM, March 23, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1996, 09:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Taos, NM
- Coordinates: 36.599098, -105.449897 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5991&lon=-105.4499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 140 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 6, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19791
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19791/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA157

## Probable cause

an encounter with unforecasted clear air turbulence.

## 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 - turbulence,clear air (cause)
  - seat belt - not used, passenger

## Analysis

While in cruise flight at flight level 330, the flight encountered unforecasted and unexpected clear air turbulence. An elderly passenger who was in the aisle fell and struck her arm on a seat armrest.  The seat belt sign was off.

## Factual narrative

On March 23, 1996, at 0920 mountain standard time, a United Air Lines Boeing 757-222, N503UA, encountered unforcasted clear air turbulence in the vicinity of Taos, New Mexico, while in cruise flight at flight level 330.   The crew of two pilots and five flight attendants were not injured, and 1 of the 134 passengers received serious injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this Title 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled air carrier flight en route from Orange County Airport, Santa Ana, California, to O'Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois, and an IFR flight plan was filed.  The flight had been airborne approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

According to the crew, the flight encountered unforecasted and unexpected clear air turbulence.  The seat belt sign was not illuminated, and an elderly passenger, who was on her way to the lavatory, fell and struck her arm on an arm rest.  She received initial treatment from a physician who was on the flight and the flight was met by paramedics upon arrival.  They determined the passenger had broken the humerus in her right arm.

At the time the accident occurred, there were no pilot reports or other informational notices regarding turbulence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N503UA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N503UA), registered now, S/N 24624, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Boeing B-757-222 (B757-222)
- Registry model: [Boeing 757-222](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-222) (registry code 1384956) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW2040](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw2040) (registry code 52121, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5003/24624
- Airframe hours: 20084
- Engines: P&W 2037M 38000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: United Air Lines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 30, 1995, 1,665 hours before
- Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 17,804 total, 578 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19960323007359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960323007359A), Mar 23, 1996: Boeing 757222, Taos, NM. (.4)While in cruise flight at flight level 330, the flight encountered unforecasted and unexpected clear air turbulence. An elderly passenger who was in the…

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.