Boeing 737-500 accident near Denver, Colorado, November 1, 2003
On November 1, 2003 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Boeing 737-500, registered N956UA, was involved in an accident near Denver, Colorado. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 95 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the in-flight encounter with heavy to moderate turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2003 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 95 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-500 · all 737-500s on the register
- Registration
- N956UA · no longer on the register · serial 26704
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the descent at FL 240, the captain asked the cabin crew to take their seats. At FL 210, the airplane encountered heavy to moderate turbulence. One flight attendant received minor injuries and another flight attendant received serious injuries. The airplane continued to Denver 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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,751 hours in all; 1,838 in this make and model; 246 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,655 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,534 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 16, 2003; 1,641 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 122,500 lb
- Seats: 123
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm International CFM56-3-B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm International CFM56-3-B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: United Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: BOI Boise ID at 5:45 pm
- Destination: DEN Denver CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; ovct at 500 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from DEN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Passengers | 92 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N956UA 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.