Boeing 767-432ER accident near Atlanta, Georgia, October 27, 2009
On October 27, 2009 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Boeing 767-432ER, registered N825MH, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Atlanta, Georgia (Hartsfield Atlanta Iternationa). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 11 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Unforecasted turbulence resulting in a flight attendant being injured.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2009 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Hartsfield Atlanta Iternationa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 11 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 767-432ER · all 767-432ERs on the register
- Registration
- N825MH · registry record · serial 29703
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The passenger flight was descending into the airport terminal area from 34,000 feet mean sea level (msl), with the seat belt sign on. While the flight attendants were securing the galley, the airplane encountered turbulence. The pilot stated that the airplane encountered the turbulence somewhere between 10,000 and 18,000 feet msl. One of the flight attendants fell into another, causing the second flight attendant to hit her head and fracture a rib. The flight landed without further incident. After landing the airplane was met by paramedics at the gate, and the flight attendant was carried off the airplane. There was no significant meteorological information (SIGMET) issued prior to the event, and there was no damage to the airplane.
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 (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,574 hours in all; 7,591 in this make and model; 209 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,334 hours in all; 6,957 in this make and model; 178 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 14, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 34,611 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 27, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 451,000 lb
- Seats: 262
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF6-80 SERIES (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF6-80 SERIES (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: LFPG Parris at 12:56 pm
- Destination: KATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 08L, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; ovct at 400 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from KATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 8 | ||
| Flight crew | 3 |
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 N825MH 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.