Airbus Industrie A319-111 accident near Pueblo, Colorado, April 6, 2003
On April 6, 2003 at about 3:15 am local time, a Airbus Industrie A319-111, registered N917FR, was involved in an accident near Pueblo, Colorado. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 62 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
in-flight encounter with turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2003 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Pueblo, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 62 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Industrie A319-111 · all A319-111s on the register
- Registration
- N917FR · no longer on the register · serial 1890
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain stated that the airplane was climbing when they encountered light turbulence at 22,000 feet. One of the pilots called to the flight attendants and asked them to sit down. According to the captain, 30 to 60 seconds later the airplane encountered severe turbulence. One flight attendant fractured two metatarsal bones in her left foot, and another flight attendant received minor injuries. The airplane returned to the airport without further incident.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,988 hours in all; 320 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,069 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 12, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 590.4 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 3, 2003; 18.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 154,400 lb
- Seats: 140
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CFM56-5B 5/P (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CFM56-5B 5/P (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Denver CO at 1:45 am
- Destination: DFW Dallas TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from PUB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Passengers | 59 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.