Boeing 737-924ER accident near Plevna, Kansas, October 24, 2015
On October 24, 2015 at about 2:35 pm local time, a 2014 Boeing 737-924ER, registered N69838, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Plevna, Kansas. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 183 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2015 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Plevna, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 183 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-924ER 924, built 2014 · all 737-924ERs on the register
- Registration
- N69838 · registry record · serial 60121
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to flight crew statements, possible moderate turbulence was forecasted for portions of the route of flight and they briefed the flight attendants (FA) of the possible turbulence. During the first portion of the flight, several areas of turbulence were encountered. The seatbelt sign was turned on during this time and the captain told the FAs to suspend service and remain seated. The flight crew requested and was cleared to a lower altitude and the turbulence subsided. After the flight was in smooth air for several minutes, the captain advised the FAs they could leave their seats but not use the carts. About five minutes later the flight again encountered moderate to severe turbulence. The captain called the cabin and discovered two FAs in the aft galley had sustained injuries during the encounter but could continue their duties to the destination. After arrival, the FAs were transported to the hospital where one was diagnosed with a tibia plateau fracture.
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 › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 13,500 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,020 hours in all; 1,214 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 1,023 as pilot in command; 442 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 28, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 174,198 lb
- Seats: 188
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: United Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Denver CO at 2:00 pm
- Destination: MCO Orlando FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from KHUT, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 179 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DCA16CA010.