# NTSB NYC03CA169: Boeing 757-251, N504US, Wadsworth, OH, July 22, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 22, 2003, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Wadsworth, OH
- Coordinates: 41.024723, -81.727218
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0247&lon=-81.7272&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 110 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03CA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03CA169

## Probable cause

An 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, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - turbulence (cause)

## Analysis

While climbing through 29,000 feet, the airplane encountered unreported clear air turbulence.  One flight attendant suffered a head injury and was admitted to a hospital for a period of more than 48 hours.

## Factual narrative

On July 22, 2003, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 757-251, N504US, operated by Northwest Airlines Inc. as flight 1142, was not damaged during an encounter with turbulence, while climbing near Wadsworth, Ohio.  Two certificated airline transport pilots, one flight attendant, and 107 passengers were not injured.  Two flight attendants sustained minor injuries, and one flight attendant sustained a serious injury.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Detroit, Michigan; destined for Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), Baltimore, Maryland.  An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the scheduled air carrier flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121.

The captain stated that the airplane was climbing through 29,000 feet, and encountered unreported "Code 4" clear air turbulence for approximately 30 seconds.  The lead flight attendant reported that a flight attendant in the rear galley had suffered a head injury, and was bleeding.  Another flight attendant suffered a possible broken finger, and a third flight attendant reported a sore neck.

The captain diverted the flight to Cleveland, Ohio, and landed uneventfully.  The captain also noted that no passengers complained of any injury, and the seatbelt sign was illuminated.

The flight attendant that suffered a head injury was admitted to a local hospital for more than 48 hours for observation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N504US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N504US-2017-05-31), registration cancelled 2017-05-31, S/N 23193, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Boeing 757-251
- Registry model: [Boeing 757-251](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-251) (registry code 1384970) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cfm56-series) (registry code 30016, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23193
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW2037 turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Northwest Airlines Inc.
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: DTW, Detroit, MI
- Destination: BWI, Baltimore, MD
- Flight plan: IFR

## 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; flight hours: 5,953 total, 1,990 in this make and model
- Co-pilot

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20030722019949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030722019949A), Jul 22, 2003: Boeing 757251, Cleveland, OH. (-23) On July 22, 2003 nwa flt 1142 was climbing through FL290, hit unexpected and unreported code 4 clear air turbulence for approx. 30 seconds. Lead f/a…

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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