Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83 accident near Ontario, California, December 25, 2007
On December 25, 2007 at about 5:18 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83, registered N943AS, was involved in an accident near Ontario, California (Ontario International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people were seriously injured; 112 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The lack of turbulence forecasts available to the flight crew, which resulted in the flight attendants not being seated when the flight encountered severe terrain-induced turbulence. Contributing to the accident were the terrain-induced turbulence, the failure of the company that provided the flight's weather briefing to forecast severe turbulence, and the failure of the dispatcher to provide the National Weather Service severe turbulence forecast to the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 2007 · about 5:18 pm local time
- Place
- Ontario, California · Ontario International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 112 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83 · all DC-9-83s on the register
- Registration
- N943AS · no longer on the register · serial 53018
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two flight attendants were seriously injured when the airplane encountered severe turbulence while descending for landing. The turbulence was likely the result of strong easterly winds interacting with the rough terrain in the area (mechanical turbulence). The flight data recorder data indicates that the airplane experienced a vertical acceleration of +0.4 G to +1.9 G, or 1.5 G total change, which corresponds to severe turbulence. The National Weather Service forecast the severe turbulence in Significant Meteorological Advisory (SIGMET) Victor 2, which was issued before the flight departed. The weather company that provides weather information to the operator did not forecast severe turbulence for the area. The content of SIGMET Victor 2 was available to the flight's dispatcher. However, this information was not provided to the flight crew. The two flight attendants who sustained injuries were both standing, completing final cabin duties in preparation for landing, and were knocked to the floor during the turbulence encounter.
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: 7,833 hours in all; 461 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 18, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,284 hours in all; 9,674 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 11, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 55,606 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 17, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 160,000 lb
- Seats: 147
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT8D (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT8D (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alaska Airlines, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: SEA Seattle WA at 3:03 pm
- Destination: ONT Ontario CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 23 knots, gusting 37
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point -4°F (-20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from ONT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | 3 | ||
| Passengers | 109 |
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.