Boeing 757-222 accident near Lithonia, Georgia, April 21, 2003
On April 21, 2003 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Boeing 757-222, registered N504UA, was involved in an accident near Lithonia, Georgia. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 184 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight into adverse weather encountered by the flight crew, and the flight attendant's restraint not available when she was informed to take her seat. The convective associated turbulence was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 2003 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lithonia, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 184 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757-222 · all 757-222s on the register
- Registration
- N504UA · no longer on the register · serial 24625
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A flight attendant received serious injuries when the domestic scheduled passenger flight encountered turbulence at flight level 290. The flightcrew were diverting around an area of convective activity when moderate turbulence was encountered with a strong updraft. The flight attendant reported that she received a message from another flight attendant to return to her seat and strap in. She was on her way back to the jump seat when the turbulence began. She reported that she "flew through the air" and hit her leg on a galley counter.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,564 hours in all; 665 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,229 hours in all; 2,340 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 44,627 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 6, 2002; 3,423 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 240,000 lb
- Seats: 188
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCO Orlando FL at 7:02 pm
- Destination: ORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:16 pm from ATL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Passengers | 179 |
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.