Boeing 757-251 accident near Denver, Colorado, June 3, 2007
On June 3, 2007 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Boeing 757-251, registered N523US, was involved in an accident near Denver, Colorado. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 172 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent encounter with moderate turbulence during the approach which resulted in a serious injury to the flight attendant
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2007 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 172 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757-251 · all 757-251s on the register
- Registration
- N523US · registry record · serial 23616
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain reported that the flight encountered moderate turbulence between 10,000 and 7,000 feet mean sea level during the approach to the airport. The approach and landing were normal. After landing, the flight crew was advised by the lead flight attendant that a flight attendant in the aft galley sustained serious injuries. The first officer reported that no turbulence was forecasted or reported during the descent. According to the injured flight attendant, she heard the double chime for the attendants to complete the final cabin check and then return to their respective seats. The attendant completed the check in a few minutes and was returning to the aft galley. The attendant reported that "it seemed that we were descending quickly so I handed the [trash] bag off to [another flight attendant], seated at door 4, so I could return to my jump seat. As I began to move toward the aisle, the plane dropped down slightly, which caused my feet to lift off the floor. This has happened to me before and I was able to brace myself by holding on to a passenger seat, or simply sitting in a passenger seat. I attempted to brace myself by reaching for the galley counters, however it was too far of a stretch and I wasn't able to hold myself very steady as my feet returned to the floor. Also, as my feet were returning to the floor, I felt the plane shift slightly from side to side. The motion of the plane coming back up as I was coming down, and shifting from side to side, I believe is what caused my leg to snap." A Convective SIGMET (significant meteorological information) 50C was issued and valid until 1455 for the states of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Kansas. The SIGMET indicated that area thunderstorms were moving 310 degrees at 20 knots with tops at 41,000 feet msl.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,088 hours in all; 4,385 in this make and model; 197 in the last 90 days; 79 in the last 30 days; 4,385 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2006
- 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
- Flight time: 7,005 hours in all; 2,822 in this make and model; 243 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 66,305 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 204,300 lb
- Seats: 191
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PW2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DTW Detroit MI at 4:25 pm
- Destination: DEN Denver CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from DEN, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 167 |
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.