# NTSB MIA93LA157: Boeing 767-322ER, N645UA, Caribbean Sea, July 16, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1993, 03:15 local (07:15 UTC)
- Place: Caribbean Sea
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 161 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37371
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93LA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37371/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA157

## Probable cause

TURBULENCE ENCOUNTERED DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AFTER ENTERING CIRRUS CLOUDS.

## 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 in clouds (cause)

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT FLIGHT LEVEL 350, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED THE TOPS OF CIRRUS CLOUDS FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY TWO SHARP JOLTS OF TURBULENCE WHICH LASTED ABOUT 15 SECONDS.  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WEATHER RADAR WAS ON AND NO WEATHER WAS DEPICTED.  THE FLIGHT CONTINUED TO THE SCHEDULED DESTINATION WHERE THE INJURED FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WERE TREATED.

## Factual narrative

On July 16, 1993, about 0315 Atlantic standard time, a Boeing 767-322ER, N645UA, registered to the Wilmington Trust Company, operated by United Air Lines, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 121, flight No. 976, as a scheduled, international, passenger flight, experienced in-flight turbulence when the flight was about 60 miles north of the Isla de Margarita, Venezuela.  Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed.  The airplane was not damaged and the captain, first officer, relief pilot, 6 flight attendants, and 152 passengers were not injured.  Two flight attendants sustained minor injuries and one flight attendant sustained serious injuries.  The flight originated from the Ezeiza Airport, Buenos Aires, Argentina, at 2159 local time.

The captain stated that he was on his rest break with the relief pilot occupying his seat.  During cruise at flight level 350, the flight encountered the top of cirrus clouds followed by two sharp jolts of turbulence that lasted about 15 seconds.  The weather radar was on and no weather was depicted.  The flight continued to the scheduled destination and after landing, the injured flight attendants were examined and treated for their injuries.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N645UA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 767-322ER
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25280
- Airframe hours: 5204
- Engines: P&W 4060 turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Air Lines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 5, 1992, 2,896 hours before
- Departed: SAEZ, BUENOS AIRES, OF
- Destination: KJFK, NEW YORK, NY
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,700 total, 1,690 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark

## 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 19930716027509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930716027509A), Jul 16, 1993: Boeing 767322, Isle De Margari, VE. At cruise encountered tops Cirrus and severe turbulence. Two flight attendents injured.

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.