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Accidents · NTSB DCA24LA316 · Final report

Boeing 757-224 accident near Dunnigan, California, September 19, 2024

On September 19, 2024 at about 7:47 pm local time, a 1998 Boeing 757-224, registered N12125, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Dunnigan, California. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 151 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The abrupt pitch control input by the flight crew in response to a TCAS resolution advisory resulted in two serious passenger injuries.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 19, 2024 · about 7:47 pm local time
Place
Dunnigan, California · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 151 others were unhurt.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Boeing 757-224, built 1998 · all 757-224s on the register
Registration
N12125 · registry record · serial 28967
Damage
Not recorded
Flight
Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

United Airlines (UA) flight 2428 received a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) resolution advisory (RA) while descending to flight level FL310 when enroute to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California. Two passengers were seriously injured, and two cabin crewmembers sustained minor injuries as a result of the aircraft response to the TCAS alert. The flight was a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey to SFO. UA2428 was instructed by air traffic control to descend and maintain FL310 for their arrival into SFO. About 500 ft above level off at FL310, the crew received a TCAS traffic alert “traffic, traffic” for an aircraft crossing 1,500 feet below to which, the first officer, as pilot flying, reduced vertical speed on the mode control panel in response. A TCAS RA then immediately annunciated for the same traffic. The pilot flying responded by disengaging the autopilot and auto throttle and pitched the aircraft up following the pitch guidance on the primary flight display. Flight data show pitch increased by about 3° over 1 second and the aircraft descent arrested. Vertical acceleration ranged from 2.3 to 0.6 (g) over 2 seconds during the maneuver. The seatbelt sign had been turned on in the cabin shortly prior to the TCAS annunciation, however passengers still remained in the lavatories at the time of the maneuver. Two flight attendants were in the forward galley cleaning in preparation for the initial descent announcement. These two flight attendants fell to the floor during the maneuver and sustained minor injuries. There were two passengers in the aft lavatories at the time of the maneuver. One passenger flew upwards and landed forward fracturing the L2 spinal vertebrae. The other passenger was exiting the lavatory when he flew upwards and landed on his leg resulting in a fractured ankle. Following the event, the aircraft landed uneventfully. Paramedics met the aircraft at the gate and transported the passengers to the hospital for treatment.

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

  1. Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation during enroute (descent) defining event
  2. Abrupt maneuver during enroute (descent)

The NTSB's findings

  • Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on equipment
  • Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on personnel

Pilot

  • Certificate: airline transport pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 16,899 hours in all; 1,440 in this make and model; 221 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 5,936 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: May 16, 2024
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

Co-pilot

  • Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
  • Flight time: 2,646 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 588 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: August 30, 2024
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 94,715 hours
  • Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 6, 2024
  • Maximum gross weight: 255,000 lb
  • Seats: 178
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine 3: Rolls-Royc RB-211 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Engine 4: Rolls-Royc RB-211 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Operator: United Airlines INC

The flight

  • Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 2:48 pm
  • Destination: SFO San Fransisco CA
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 110° at 15 knots
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: -47°F (-44°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Cabi22
Flight crew2
Passengers2147

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

5 documents, released by the NTSB on March 27, 2025. 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.

#DocumentWhat it is
1 Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120 PDF, 11 pages View Download
2 Flight Crew Statements PDF, 2 pages View Download
3 Flight Attendant Statements PDF, 4 pages View Download
4 Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report PDF, 10 pages View Download
5 Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 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 N12125 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

2021-09-27DCA22LA002 · accident near Newark, NJ · substantial damage · no injuries

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.