Investigation brief · generated 2026-10-09 · source: NTSB public docket and accident database
BOEING 737-924ER — Plevna, KS, USA, 2015-10-24
NTSB number
DCA16CA010
Operator
UNITED AIR LINES INC
Registration
N69838
Highest injury
Serious injury
Regulation
Part 121
Damage
—
Cohort
Part 121 airline
Recorder data
Tier 1 — decoded recorder tables
Every sentence below is taken directly from NTSB records — the accident database, the docket's recorder reports and the Board's findings — with its source noted. Nothing is paraphrased or inferred.
NTSB summary
According to flight crew statements, possible moderate turbulence was forecasted for portions of the route of flight and they briefed the flight attendants (FA) of the possible turbulence. During the first portion of the flight, several areas of turbulence were encountered. The seatbelt sign was turned on during this time and the captain told the FAs to suspend service and remain seated. The flight crew requested and was cleared to a lower altitude and the turbulence subsided. After the flight was in smooth air for several minutes, the captain advised the FAs they could leave their seats but not use the carts. About five minutes later the flight again encountered moderate to severe turbulence. The captain called the cabin and discovered two FAs in the aft galley had sustained injuries during the encounter but could continue their duties to the destination. After arrival, the FAs were transported to the hospital where one was diagnosed with a tibia plateau fracture.
An inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
Verbatim, NTSB determination.
Flight data recorder
Boeing 737-900 · N69838 — 12,460 samples, 23 parameters, 00:00:00.0 to 03:27:39.0.
Parameter
Max
at
Min
at
Final
at
Pressure altitude ft
65,528.0
03:21:05.0
0.0
00:01:50.0
65,499.0
03:27:39.0
Computed airspeed kts
322.0
00:51:13.0
0.0
00:01:50.0
45.0
03:27:39.0
Vertical acceleration g
1.4
03:21:14.0
-3.4
00:01:50.0
1.0
03:27:39.0
Computed from the docket's tabular attachment; times as recorded (local or SRN as published).
Sequence of events (FDR factual report)
Time
Event
Page
0935 CDT (October 25, 2015, per event summary text)
United Airlines flight #1904 encountered moderate to severe turbulence 20 miles west of ICT at FL270 while enroute to Orlando International Airport (ORD). The seatbelt sign was on. There were no passenger injuries. Two flight attendants reported injuries.
1
SRN 2980 to 3590
Figure 2 is a segment of figure 1 during the turbulence event from SRN 2980 to 3590. Increases in all three accelerations are noticeable during this period.
2
Extracted by claude-sonnet-5; 2 of 2 stated events verified against the raw recorder data.