Summary
On February 25, 1997, a Boeing 767-300 (N661UA) was involved in an accident near San Francisco, CA. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury, with 109 people uninjured out of 110 aboard.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: An encounter with unforecasted moderate clear air turbulence, while descending over mountainous terrain.
On February 25, 1997, at 1309 hours Pacific standard time, a flight attendant received a serious injury during an encounter with clear air turbulence over the Sierra mountains while the aircraft was in a descent to San Francisco, California. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time. The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300, N661UA, was operated by United Airlines as flight 961 from Paris, France, with a total of 110 people onboard. None of the other people onboard were injured.
According to United Airlines, the aircraft was descending through flight level 330 when the aircraft experienced a single, severe jolt of unforecasted moderate clear air turbulence. The aft flight attendant, working in the rear galley, fractured her right ankle that later required surgery.
This accident is documented in NTSB report LAX97LA112. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N661UA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
an encounter with unforecasted moderate clear air turbulence, while descending over mountainous terrain.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On February 25, 1997, at 1309 hours Pacific standard time, a flight attendant received a serious injury during an encounter with clear air turbulence over the Sierra mountains while the aircraft was in a descent to San Francisco, California. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time. The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300, N661UA, was operated by United Airlines as flight 961 from Paris, France, with a total of 110 people onboard. None of the other people onboard were injured.
According to United Airlines, the aircraft was descending through flight level 330 when the aircraft experienced a single, severe jolt of unforecasted moderate clear air turbulence. The aft flight attendant, working in the rear galley, fractured her right ankle that later required surgery. The fasten seat belt sign was not illuminated at the time.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX97LA112