Airbus Industrie A320-321 accident near Payson, Arizona, June 5, 2003
On June 5, 2003 at about 10:28 pm local time, a Airbus Industrie A320-321, registered N644AW, was involved in an accident near Payson, Arizona. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 139 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight's encounter with convectively induced turbulence associated with developing thunderstorms while the flight crew attempted to deviate around an area of adverse weather. The turbulence event occurred while the crew was attempting to maneuver around the identified primary buildup, and a secondary system that was partially masked by the primary cell visually and on radar was encountered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2003 · about 10:28 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 139 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Industrie A320-321 · all A320-321s on the register
- Registration
- N644AW · no longer on the register · serial 317
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 25,000 feet during climb out, a flight attendant was injured during an encounter with moderate turbulence. The flight attendant was out of her seat in the aft galley preparing to provide cabin service. The flight crew deviated to the closest airport, the flight attendant was transported to the hospital, and the flight departed 30 minutes later for its intended destination. Prior to departure, the captain was provided with a weather package that indicated there would be a buildup of cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorm activity up to 33,000 feet along their route of flight. During the climb out, the flight crew reported visually seeing the cumulus buildup, and verified it via their onboard weather radar. The flight crew asked for, and received, an ATC clearance to deviate to the right around the building cumulonimbus clouds. The deviation to the right of course placed the flight's path directly downwind of the buildups and potentially in the vicinity of turbulent eddies. The in-flight turbulence event occurred after the flight diverted around a primary buildup and entered into a secondary buildup that was partially masked by the primary buildup.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,500 hours in all; 2,841 in this make and model; 198 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,500 hours in all; 3,975 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 34,545.5 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 1, 2002; 4,135.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 166,400 lb
- Seats: 156
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: International Aero Engines V2527-A1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: International Aero Engines V2527-A1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: America West Airlines, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ at 10:12 pm
- Destination: HFD Hartford CT
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 10:05 pm from INW, 54 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 135 |
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.