Boeing 757 accident near Boone, North Carolina, May 23, 2011
On May 23, 2011 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Boeing 757, registered N623DL, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Boone, North Carolina (Atlanta airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 185 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadvertant encounter with convective turbulence while in cruise. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the unrestrained status of the passenger, contrary to the lighted seat belt sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2011 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Boone, North Carolina · Atlanta · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 185 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757 232 · all 757s on the register
- Registration
- N623DL · no longer on the register · serial 22913
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 23, 2011 at about 1520 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 757-223, N623DL, operated by Delta Airlines as flight 2001, encountered turbulence while in cruise flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport(ATL), Atlanta, Georgia. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight. One passenger was seriously injured and one of the 4 flight attendants experienced a minor injury. None of the 2 flight crew, other 3 flight attendants, or other 180 passengers was injured. The airplane was not damaged, and continued the flight to Atlanta. The flight crew reported that while in cruise flight at FL340, approximately 200 miles northeast of the destination, they were in an area of forecast convective weather and were maneuvering between two cells when they inadvertantly entered the edge of a cumulus buildup at the time of the turbulence. The seat belt sign was illuminated at this time, but the passenger was out of her seat and fell, resulting in a broken ankle.
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
What happened, in order
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,532 hours in all; 128 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 30, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,604 hours in all; 96 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 16, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 61,801 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 232,000 lb
- Seats: 191
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney 2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: 2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: KBOS Boston MA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: KATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 3 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 180 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 10, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Operations 2 - Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Operations 2 - Copilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Meteorology 5 - Met Package | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Survival Factors 6 - Fa Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.