Boeing B767-300 accident near New Market, Virginia, May 7, 2003
On May 7, 2003 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Boeing B767-300, registered N650UA, was involved in an accident near New Market, Virginia. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 147 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent encounter with turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2003 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- New Market, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 147 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing B767-300
- Registration
- N650UA · registry record · serial 25287
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on approach to the airport, at flight level 210, thunderstorm cell activity was noted on the airplane's weather radar. The flight was given clearance to descend to 11,000 feet, and during the descent, an area of "moderate turbulence" was encountered, which lasted about 20-30 seconds. During the encounter, a flight attendant fell and twisted her 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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,993 hours in all; 3,862 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,377 hours in all; 2,374 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47,864 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 4, 2003; 746 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 407,000 lb
- Seats: 204
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW 4060 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW 4060 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: United Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: SFO San Francisco CA at 3:49 pm
- Destination: IAD Dulles VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; a few clouds at 900 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 9:21 pm from IAD, 90 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 7 | ||
| Passengers | 140 |
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.