# NTSB MIA94LA010: Boeing 767-300, N649UA, Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), October 22, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 22, 1993, 02:30 local (05:30 UTC) - Place: Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean) - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 105 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37449/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA010 ## Probable cause Encounter with unforecasted weather (moderate turblence) resulting in injury to three passengers. ## 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 (cause) ## Analysis The Boeing 767-300 was in cruise flight at flight level 350. The weather radar was on and no weather was depicted on the radar screen. The airplane encountered about 15 to 20 seconds of light chop which was followed by moderate turbulence lasting about 30 to 40 seconds. The seat belt sign was turned on, and the flight attendants were contacted to check on the status of the passengers. Initial report from the flight attendants revealed there were no injuries. A subsequent report from the chief purser, revealed three passengers were injured. The flight continued to the destination airport and landed without further incident. ## Factual narrative On October 22, 1993, at about 0230 Atlantic standard time, a Boeing 767-300, N649UA, flight number 990, registered to United Air Lines Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled domestic/international passenger/cargo flight, encountered moderate turbulence, while in cruise flight at flight level 350, about 450 nautical miles southeast of Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was not damaged. The airline transport pilot- in-command, 2 airline transport first officers, 7 flight attendants, and 95 passengers were not injured. Two passengers sustained minor injuries, and one passenger sustained a serious injury. The flight originated from Rio De Janeiro International Airport about 7 hours before the accident. The flight crew stated, while the airplane was in cruise flight at flight level 350. The weather radar was on, and no weather was depicted. About 50 miles north of Joses intersection, the airplane encountered about 15 to 20 seconds of light chop which was followed by moderate turbulence lasting about 30 to 40 seconds. The seatbelt sign was turned on, and the flight attendants were contacted to check on the status of the passengers. The initial report indicated there were no injuries. About 30 minutes later, the chief purser notified the flight crew that three passengers were complaining about back and neck injuries. Company operations was notified and the flight landed without further incident. Review of available weather radar charts, revealed no weather phenomena in the immediate vicinity of flight 990 at the time of the in-flight encounter with weather. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N649UA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N649UA), registered now, S/N 25286, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 767-300 - Registry model: [Boeing 767-322](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-767-322) (registry code 1385200) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW4060](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw4060) (registry code 52140, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25286 - Airframe hours: 5832 - Engines: P&W 4060 turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: United Air Lines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 18, 1993, 37 hours before - Departed: SBGL, RIO DE JANEIRO, OF - Destination: KMIA, MIAMI, FL - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,564 total, 1,080 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MIA, 450 nm away ## Other investigations on N649UA (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA23LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23LA093), Dec 8, 2022: Boeing 767-322 (N649UA), Newark, NJ, no damage. Probable cause: An inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence during descent. 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.