Boeing 757-200 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, May 29, 2002
On May 29, 2002 at about 5:08 pm local time, a Boeing 757-200, registered N626DL, was involved in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (The William B Hartsfield Atlan). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 91 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
In-flight encounter with turbulence during descent, that resulted in an serious injury to the flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2002 · about 5:08 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · The William B Hartsfield Atlan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 91 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757-200 · all 757-200s on the register
- Registration
- N626DL · no longer on the register · serial 22916
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A flight attendant was preparing the cabin for landing on a Boeing 767-200 when the airplane experienced turbulence. The flight was deviating around cumulonimbus clouds at approximately 11,500 feet, and the seat belt signs were illuminated; all passengers were seated at the time. The flight attendant was thrown around the rear of the cabin and injured.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 642 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 24, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,700 hours in all; 2,043 in this make and model; 216 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 18, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51,316 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 8, 2002; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 232,000 lb
- Seats: 191
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney 2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney 2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: ORD Chicago IL at 3:50 pm
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 8, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from ATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 3 | ||
| Passengers | 88 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.