Boeing 737-824 accident near Denver, Colorado, September 1, 2022
On September 1, 2022 at about 9:18 pm local time, a 2010 Boeing 737-824, registered N76529, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Denver, Colorado. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 147 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with clear air turbulence, which resulted in a serious injury as a flight attendant was lowering her jumpseat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2022 · about 9:18 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 147 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-824, built 2010 · all 737-824s on the register
- Registration
- N76529 · registry record · serial 31652
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew stated that the flight was on the final stage of the arrival for landing. The seatbelt sign had been on, the flight attendants had just completed their final pre-landing preparations, and had been instructed to take their seats, when suddenly the flight experienced a sudden jolt due to clear air turbulence. When the turbulence occurred one of the flight attendants was in the process of seating herself and as she placed her hand on her jumpseat to lower it, the turbulence occurred causing her to fall and experience an abrupt and intense pressure on her left hand as her fingers were bent backwards. Her hand immediately began to swell. The injured flight attendant was assisted by another flight attendant, the flight crew was informed, and a medical emergency was declared. After landing the flight attendant was given medical care and diagnosed with a fracture of the 4th metacarpal bone in her left hand.
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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,620 hours in all; 7,773 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 6,130 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 298 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 31, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 149
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B26/3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B26/3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: United Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KPDX Portland OR at 7:20 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from DEN, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 142 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2023. 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 | Employee Statements - Captain | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Employee Statements - First Officer | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Employee Statements - Flight Attendants | 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.
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.