Boeing 737 824 N16217

Summary

On 24 November 2014 at about 19:20 local time, a Boeing 737 824 registered N16217, operated by United Air Lines Inc, was involved in an accident near Valdosta, Georgia, United States. 159 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 12 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 November 2014 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Valdosta, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

30.7806, -83.2797

Aircraft

Boeing 737 824

Registration

N16217

Category

Airplane

Year built

1998

Engines

2

Operator

United Air Lines Inc

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sarasota → Chicago

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA15CA035

1 person was seriously injured.

an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence while the flight attendants were returning to their seats.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise at FL340 and experiencing occasional light chop, the flight crew was notified by ATC of pilot reports of moderate turbulence along their route of flight. The seatbelt sign was on and the captain advised the flight attendants (FA) to stow galley carts and be seated. The first officer subsequently made a PA announcement to advise passengers to remain seated with seatbelts fastened and for FAs to be seated immediately. Soon after this, the airplane encountered turbulence, categorized by the flight crew as severe, which resulted in altitude fluctuation ± 300 feet. The FAs were in the process of returning the meal service carts to the aft galley when the turbulence was encountered and reported that they, along with the service carts, were lifted off the floor about three times. One FA reported being thrown into the ceiling and back to the seats and floor. The lead FA advised the flight crew that some of the passengers and FAs had received minor injuries but none requested medical attention.  The flight continued to ORD and landed uneventfully and emergency medical met the airplane at the gate as a precautionary measure. After returning home, one flight attendant was diagnosed with a fractured lumbar vertebra.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.