Airbus A330 323 accident near Seattle, PO, March 17, 2014
On March 17, 2014 at about 2:00 am local time, a 2003 Airbus A330 323, registered N803NW, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Seattle, PO. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 264 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight attendant inadvertently tripping over a passenger's foot that was protruding into the aisle, which resulted in the flight attendant fracturing her foot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2014 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Seattle, PO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 264 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A330 323 323, built 2003 · all A330 323s on the register
- Registration
- N803NW · registry record · serial 0542
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About four hours after departure on an international flight, and while over the Pacific Ocean, a flight attendant tripped and fell over a passenger's extended foot while walking down the aisle. The flight attendant was unable to continue her duties due to a swollen and painful foot. During a follow up examination, the flight attendant was diagnosed with a fractured foot.
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
- Cabin safety event during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Person › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,830 hours in all; 1,793 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 15, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47,220 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 15, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 513,676 lb
- Seats: 309
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W PW4000 SER (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W PW4000 SER (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
The flight
- Departed from: SEA Seattle WA at 10:27 pm
- Destination: RJAA Narita
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 9 | ||
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 252 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 2, 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, 17 pages | 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 N803NW 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.