Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) accident near Near St. Louis, Missouri, May 26, 2004
On May 26, 2004 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82), registered N573AA, was involved in an accident near Near St. Louis, Missouri (St. Louis International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 86 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unexpected encounter with convective turbulence which resulted in a flight attendant being injured.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2004 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Near St. Louis, Missouri · St. Louis International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 86 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) · all DC-9-82 (MD-82)s on the register
- Registration
- N573AA · registry record · serial 53092
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A flight attendant was seriously injured and a passenger received a minor injury when the airplane encountered turbulence during an arrival descent. The airplane was descending through 12,000 feet at 280 to 290 knots when it encountered an updraft. The captain reported they had just entered the cloud tops when they encountered an updraft that lasted about 2 seconds. The cockpit crew was then informed that a flight attendant in the rear of the airplane was thrown off her feet and injured. A passenger who was in the lavatory when the turbulence was encountered, reported that he hit his head. The flight crew declared an emergency. The flight was immediately cleared for an approach, and they were met by medical personnel after an uneventful landing. The passenger refused treatment. The flight attendant was transported to a hospital where it was determined that she suffered broken ribs, a fractured wrist, and pelvic fractures. According to crewmembers, the seatbelt sign was on when the turbulence was encountered. Although storms were not present along the flight path, SIGMETS had been issued for severe storms in the surrounding area. Approximately 15 minutes after this accident, another MD-80 reported severe turbulence along the same route.
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 instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 17,531 hours in all; 4,329 in this make and model; 6,790 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,846 hours in all; 5,819 in this make and model; 1,839 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 24, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 38,987 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 23, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 149,500 lb
- Seats: 137
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200-7C (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Orange County CA at 7:28 pm
- Destination: STL St. Louis MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 11:05 pm from STL, 62 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 82 |
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.