Boeing 787 accident near Beaumont, Texas, November 7, 2015
On November 7, 2015 at about 11:00 am local time, a 2015 Boeing 787, registered N27958, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Beaumont, Texas. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 221 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence resulting in serious injury to a flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2015 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Beaumont, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 221 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 787, built 2015 · all 787s on the register
- Registration
- N27958 · registry record · serial 36406
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to crew statements, the flight encountered light turbulence while deviating around areas of weather depicted on the onboard weather radar during descent from FL350 to 12,000 feet. Air Traffic Control (ATC) had also advised them of areas of precipitation shown on ATC radar. The seatbelt sign was turned on and the flight crew advised the cabin crew to complete service and be seated for arrival. The flight was returning on course after it appeared they were clear of significant weather when they encountered an area of moderate turbulence and briefly encountered what the crew characterized as severe turbulence. A flight attendant (FA) in the aft galley was lifted into the air and fell back down to the floor injuring her ankle. The flight crew was notified of the injury and they requested paramedics meet the airplane upon arrival. The FA was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured 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 (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,900 hours in all; 360 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 24, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,400 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 233 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 15, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Seats: 268
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge GENX-1B74/75 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge GENX-1B74/75 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: United Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: SBGL Rio De Janeiro at 11:41 pm
- Destination: KIAH Houston TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 300 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 5:02 pm from KBPT, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 10 | ||
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| LapC | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 207 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on August 29, 2016. 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 | Flight Crew Statements | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Cabin Crew Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Study - Excerpt from Weather Study for Ual Flight 128 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Flight Data Recorder Factual Report - Attachment 1-REL | data file | 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 N27958 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.