# NTSB NYC00LA097: Boeing 737-300, N397US, Boston, MA, February 3, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 3, 2000, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Boston, MA
- Location: 42.3584° N, 71.0598° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Boston, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3584&lon=-71.0598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 59 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48856
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48856/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA097

## Probable cause

In flight encounter with turbulence.

## 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

While in cruise flight, the airplane encountered turbulence, and the flight attendants returned to their seats.  The turbulence continued, and a cart began to break free.  A flight attendant attempted to push the cart with her foot, and suffered a fracture.

## Factual narrative

On February 3, 2000, about 0800 Eastern Standard Time, a Boeing 737-300, N397US, encountered turbulence after departure from General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts.  There was no damage to the airplane, which was owned and operated by US Airways as flight 6509.  There were no injuries to 4 crewmembers and 55 passengers, while 1 crewmember was seriously injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight destined for Ronald Regan Washington National Airport, Washington, DC.  An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the air carrier flight conducted under 14 CFR part 121.

The manager of Flight Safety at US Airways stated:

"The flight was dispatched with MEL No. 22-3, yaw damper inop.  After level off and during initial passenger service the flight began to encounter turbulence that became progressively worse.  The flight attendant returned the serving cart to its stowage bin and then strapped into her jumpseat.  During the continued turbulence the cart began to break free.  On instinct the flight attendant put up her foot to hold the cart; however, it pushed her foot backwards.  At first, the flight attendant assumed her foot was just bruised and would get better on its own, it did not.  She visited her own doctor who diagnosed that she had fractured the 5th metatarsal base of her left foot."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N397US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N397US-2006-07-18), registration cancelled 2006-07-18, S/N 23319, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Boeing 737-300
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-3B7](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3b7) (registry code 138447F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23319
- Engines: Cfm CFM56-3B2 20000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: US Airways
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: BOS, MA
- Destination: DCA, WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BOS, Logan Int'L Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 4,700 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 16,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 18 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BOS

## 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 20000203038769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000203038769A), Feb 3, 2000: Boeing 7373B7, Boston, MA. (.4)While in cruise flight, the airplane encountered turbulence, and the flight attendants returned to their seats. The turbulence continued, and a cart began…

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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