Boeing 737-832 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, October 22, 2005
On October 22, 2005 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Boeing 737-832, registered N378DA, was involved in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 147 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with 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
- October 22, 2005 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 147 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-832 · all 737-832s on the register
- Registration
- N378DA · registry record · serial 29624
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Light turbulence prevailed during the climb after takeoff, and the seatbelt sign remained illuminated. About 230 miles northwest of the departure airport, at 34,000 feet, the turbulence subsided; however, more turbulence was forecasted for about 150 miles ahead of the airplane. The captain announced to the passengers that the seatbelt sign would be turned off for 10 minutes to allow them an opportunity to move about the cabin, but would be turned on again due to the upcoming turbulence. About 3 minutes after turning the seatbelt sign back on, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence. During that time, two passengers fell as they were attempting to sit down. In addition, a flight attendant fell to the floor as she was attempting to sit, and fractured her pelvis.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,230 hours in all; 1,950 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,352 hours in all; 3,263 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,800 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 1, 2005; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 172,500 lb
- Seats: 158
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Snecma CFM56-7B26 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Snecma CFM56-7B26 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDA Hamilton at 5:40 pm
- Destination: BOS Boston MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,900 ft; scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:39 pm from BOS, 500 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 2 | 143 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N378DA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.