Boeing 737-924 accident near Palestine, Texas, April 6, 2003
On April 6, 2003 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Boeing 737-924, registered N71411, was involved in an accident near Palestine, Texas. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 89 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's encounter with unforecasted clear air turbulence during cruise flight.
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 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Palestine, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 89 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-924 · all 737-924s on the register
- Registration
- N71411 · registry record · serial 30128
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The transport category airplane encountered severe turbulence while deviating around weather at flight level 280 (FL280). The captain had informed the flight attendants to leave the carts stowed and sit down because they might get "a few bumps" for the next minutes or so. The "Fasten Seat Belt" sign was illuminated, and had not been turned off since takeoff. A few minutes later the airplane encountered "moderate turbulence" with no preceding chop. One flight attendant, who was in the aft galley was trying to stow away the beverage cart after receiving a call reporting turbulence the airplane may encounter. While trying to stow the cart away, the cart rolled into her right side, resulting in a fractured femur. Following the turbulence encounter, the airplane diverted to another airport and landed 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 instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,830 hours in all; 4,050 in this make and model; 232 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days; 8,560 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 3,800 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 8, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,769 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 5, 2003; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 175,500 lb
- Seats: 174
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm International CFM56-7B26 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm International CFM56-7B26 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IAH Houston TX at 3:32 pm
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 900 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 6 | ||
| Passengers | 83 |
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.