# NTSB NYC03LA177: Boeing 737-800, N329TZ, Wooster, OH, August 16, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 2003, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Wooster, OH
- Coordinates: 40.99139, -81.888053
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9914&lon=-81.8881&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 132 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57709
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57709/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA177

## Probable cause

An inadvertent encounter with turbulence during descent.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, descent
  - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, flightcrew (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence

## Analysis

As the flight was being vectored around weather, the airplane encountered turbulence.  A flight attendant, who was preparing the cabin for landing, fell and suffered a broken ankle.

## Factual narrative

On August 16, 2003, about 1340 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 737-800, N329TZ, operated by American Trans Air Inc., as flight 820, was not damaged after it encountered turbulence during decent over Wooster, Ohio.  There were no injuries to the 2 certificated airline transport pilots, 1 flight attendant, and 129 passengers; however, 1 flight attendant was seriously injured, and two additional flight attendants received minor injuries.  Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the scheduled, international flight, which originated from the Cancun International Airport (MCUN), Cancun, Mexico, destined for the Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio.  Flight 820 was conducted on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 121

According to a representative from the operator, the flight was being vectored around weather in the area of Cleveland, when it encountered turbulence.  A flight attendant, who was preparing the cabin for landing, fell and suffered a broken ankle.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N329TZ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Boeing 737-800
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32615
- Airframe hours: 2365
- Engines: General Electric CFM 56-7B 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CFM 56-7B 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: American Trans Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 8, 2003, 348 hours before
- Departed: MCUN, Cancun
- Destination: CLE, Cleveland, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CLE, Cleveland-Hopkins Int.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 26, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 5,558 total, 781 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 13, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 16,051 total, 1,076 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: CLE, 35 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 20030816022969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030816022969A), Aug 16, 2003: Boeing 73783N, Wooster, OH. (-23) American trans air flight 820 was descending into cleveland Ohio. IFR conditions existed enroute but the destination was reported as VFR with light…

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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