Boeing B757-200 accident near Kokomo, Indiana, June 5, 2001
On June 5, 2001 at about 1:58 pm local time, a Boeing B757-200, registered N563UA, was involved in an accident near Kokomo, Indiana. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 150 others were unhurt.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the turbulence encountered during descent and the passenger failure to return to his seat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2001 · about 1:58 pm local time
- Place
- Kokomo, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 150 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Boeing B757-200
- Registration
- N563UA · no longer on the register · serial 26665
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was deviating around thunderstorm activity and while descending the aircraft encountered turbulence resulting in a broken ankle to a passenger. A company representative reported, "Before starting the descent from FL280 to FL240, an announcement was made to the cabin that the FASTEN SEATBELT sign was on and that turbulence was expected during the descent." In a written statement the First Officer reported, "After we encountered the turbulence, we contacted the purser via the interphone. The purser informed us that there was one passenger in a lavatory with an injury to the head, and a second passenger also in a lavatory with a broken ankle." The male passenger received a serious trimalleolar fracture to the left ankle, and the female passenger received a minor injury. The male passenger reported he had unfastened his seatbelt and proceeded to the lavatory at the rear of the airplane. He reported that the fasten seat belt sign was not illuminated when he left his seat, and the flight deck had not issued any advisories while he was waiting for the lavatory. He reported that while he was in the lavatory, the airplane encountered turbulence that led to his injury. The female passenger, who received a minor injury, reported she was in the lavatory when the airplane encountered turbulence.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,060 hours in all; 2,364 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,862 hours in all; 1,774 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30,255 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 23, 2001; 948 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 240,000 lb
- Seats: 191
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney 2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLL Fort Lauderdale FL at 11:36 am
- Destination: ORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; ovct at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 1:26 pm from OKK, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 7 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 143 |
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.