Boeing 757 232 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, January 10, 2014
On January 10, 2014 at about 12:00 pm local time, a 1998 Boeing 757 232, registered N687DL, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Atlanta, Georgia. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 140 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
unexpected encounter with convective turbulence while the flight attendants were preparing for arrival.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2014 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 140 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757 232 232, built 1998 · all 757 232s on the register
- Registration
- N687DL · registry record · serial 27586
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew was anticipating light turbulence during the descent and notified the cabin and selected the fasten seatbelt sign on prior to descending from 28,000 feet. During the descent, as the flight attendants (FA) were still preparing the cabin for arrival, the turbulence increased to a level the crew categorized as moderate. During this time, while trying to get to her seat, a FA was thrown against the 3L door and fell to the floor injuring her right ankle. The FA could not complete her duties and was assisted into the last row of seats. Another FA informed the flight crew who arranged for paramedics to meet the airplane. The FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken right tibia in two places.
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 (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,296 hours in all; 4,712 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 11, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,081 hours in all; 3,051 in this make and model; 123 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 22, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 248,020 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KJAX Jacksonville FL at 11:20 am
- Destination: KATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from KATL, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 3 | ||
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 134 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2015. 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Papers | PDF, 17 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Flight Data Recorder - Attachment 1 Tabular Data | data file | Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N687DL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.