Boeing 737-301 accident near Toccoa, Georgia, May 28, 2001
On May 28, 2001 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Boeing 737-301, registered N349US, was involved in an accident near Toccoa, Georgia. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 120 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight encounter with unforecasted weather (turbulence) during an enroute climb resulting in one flight attendant sustaining serious injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2001 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Toccoa, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 120 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-301 · all 737-301s on the register
- Registration
- N349US · no longer on the register · serial 23552
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was in the clear between FL220 and 240 following another airplane. The radar range was set at 20-40 and 80 miles alternately, and the seat belt sign was illuminated. All weather activity was off the left wing to the north. The other pilot located to their front requested a vector, when they experienced an unforecasted encounter with weather (turbulence). A short time later he was informed that a flight attendant had been injured and the flight diverted back to its departure airport.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,225 hours in all; 8,323 in this make and model; 174 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,362 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 121
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cfm International CFM56-3B2 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: US Airways Inc
The flight
- Departed from: ATL Atlanta GA at 1:23 pm
- Destination: PIT Pittsburg PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:41 pm from GVL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 116 |
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.