Boeing 737-924ER accident near Myrtle Beach, AO, July 28, 2023
On July 28, 2023 at about 12:16 pm local time, a 2009 Boeing 737-924ER, registered N77431, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Myrtle Beach, AO. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 184 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with convectively induced turbulence (CIT) while in cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2023 · about 12:16 pm local time
- Place
- Myrtle Beach, AO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 184 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-924ER, built 2009 · all 737-924ERs on the register
- Registration
- N77431 · registry record · serial 32833
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
United Airlines flight 2122 encountered severe turbulence while in cruise flight at flight level (FL) 330 enroute to Punta Cana Airport (PUJ), Dominican Republic, and a flight attendant (FA) sustained serious injuries. The flight crew reported that after reaching a cruise altitude of FL330 and before entering oceanic airspace they downloaded the latest Weather Services International (WSI) radar image, lightning data, and SkyPath ride reports. The airborne radar was in use which depicted some very small, scattered cells well below their altitude. Shortly thereafter, the captain visually acquired a cloud buildup immediately ahead and below their altitude. With no visual indication of the cloud on the weather radar they made a right turn to avoid any potential turbulence. While in the right turn, the airplane entered visual meteorological conditions and the captain visually acquired another cloud buildup directly ahead. To avoid the buildup the captain continued the right turn to no avail. The airplane entered the clouds and immediately encountered severe turbulence for about 5 seconds. A public address (PA) announcement was immediately made “be seated immediately, be seated immediately”. Following the turbulence encountered the flight crew was notified that two aft FAs had been injured. Just before the turbulence event, the number 2L and 2R FAs had moved the beverage cart to the aft galley, so the 2R FA could use the lavatory. After entering the lavatory, she was thrown into the air and landed on her left ankle and knee. The 2L FA stated that as soon as the 2R FA entered the lavatory, they encountered severe turbulence. She and the beverage cart were tossed into the air, and she impacted the floor of the airplane on her left side. She stated that the impact was like “slamming down from a 5th floor building”. Upon being notified of the injuries, the flight crew declared an emergency and diverted to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for medical assistance. The two injured FAs were transported to local hospitals where one was diagnosed with serious injuries. At the time of the turbulence encounter there were no active significant meteorological information (SIGMETs), convective SIGMETs, airman’s meteorological information (AIRMETs), or pilot reports (PIREPs) of any significant turbulence.
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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Awareness of condition
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of meteorologic cond › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,900 hours in all; 6,850 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command; 34 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 17, 2022
- 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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,223 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 218 in the last 90 days; 99 in the last 30 days; 1,298 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 29, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 43,798 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 5, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 187,700 lb
- Seats: 156
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B26/3 (turbofan); 40,651 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B26/3 (turbofan); 48,579 hours total
- Operator: United Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 11:24 am
- Destination: PUJ Punta Cana OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: broken clouds
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:56 am from KMYR
Weather report (METAR): KMYR 281256Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/26 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP216 T02940256
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 179 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 15, 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 | Flight Crew Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Attendant Statements | PDF, 4 pages | 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.