# NTSB FTW97LA215: Boeing 737-291A, N980UA, Albuquerque, NM, June 11, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1997, 11:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.060905, -106.619621 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0609&lon=-106.6196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 107 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20238 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20238/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA215 ## Probable cause the sudden encounter with 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, descent - normal - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was descending through FL180 when the crew was advised of reported light to moderate turbulence in the area. The captain instructed passengers and flight attendants to return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts. Shortly thereafter, the airplane encountered turbulence. Before getting into her seat and restraining herself, a flight attendant was injured when she struck her back against a seat armrest. X-rays later revealed that she had fractured a bone in her shoulder. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1997, approximately 1135 mountain daylight time, a Boeing 737-291A, N980UA, operated by United Air Lines, Inc., as flight 441, sustained no damage when it encountered clear air turbulence while on descent to Albuquerque, New Mexico. One flight attendant was seriously injured, but there were no injuries to the airline transport rated captain and first officer, two other flight attendants, and 103 passengers. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the scheduled domestic passenger flight operated under Title 14 CFR Part 121. The flight originated at Denver, Colorado, approximately 1035. The following is based on information provided by a United Air Lines safety department spokesman. The airplane was descending through FL180 when the crew was advised of light to moderate turbulence. The captain instructed passengers and flight attendants to return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts. Shortly thereafter, the airplane encountered turbulence. Prior to getting into her seat and restraining herself, a flight attendant was injured when she struck her back against a seat armrest. Paramedics who examined her at the airport said she had sustained a contusion. The flight attendant continued in her duties on the return flight to Denver. She was later examined by her personal physician, and X-rays indicated she had fractured a bone in her shoulder. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N980UA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N980UA-2006-06-05), registration cancelled 2006-06-05, S/N 21545, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737-291A - Registry model: [Boeing 737-291](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-291) (registry code 138448W) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21545 - Airframe hours: 49886 - Engines: P&W JT8D-9A 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: United Air Lines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 23, 1997, 229 hours before - Departed: DEN, DENVER, CO - Destination: ABQ - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 80 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 5 nm away ## 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 19970611015669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970611015669A), Jun 11, 1997: Boeing 737291, Albuquerque, NM. (.4) The airplane was descending through FL180 when the crew was advised of reported light to moderate turbulence in the area. The captain instructed… 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.