Boeing 767-2B7 accident near New York, New York, October 20, 2011
On October 20, 2011, a Boeing 767-2B7, registered N253AY, was involved in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near New York, New York. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 215 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger's lack of compliance with the illuminated seatbelt sign, which resulted in her injury during a turbulence encounter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2011
- Place
- New York, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 215 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 767-2B7 · all 767-2B7s on the register
- Registration
- N253AY · no longer on the register · serial 24894
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight crew and a flight attendant, about 15 minutes after departure, the airplane was climbing through flight level 220. Although the captain had allowed the use of approved portable electronic devices (PED) as the airplane climbed above 10,000 feet, the fasten seatbelt sign remained illuminated. When the PED allowance was announced, a couple of passengers began to move about the cabin, including one that went to the lavatory. As the passenger was exiting the lavatory and returning to her seat, the airplane encountered unforecast moderate turbulence. The passenger fell down in the aisle and suffered a fractured ankle.
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 (climb to cruise) defining event
- Cabin safety event during enroute (climb to cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Passenger
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,301 hours in all; 1,917 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 6,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 8, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,130 hours in all; 1,142 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 11,712 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 15, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 351,000 lb
- Seats: 216
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF6-80C2B2 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF6-80C2B2 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: US Airways INC
The flight
- Departed from: KPHL Philadelphia PA
- Destination: EDDF Frankfurt
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 070° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.48 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 8 | |||
| Flight crew | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 203 |
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.