Boeing 757-232 accident near Naches, Washington, February 28, 2011
On February 28, 2011 at about 6:39 am local time, a Boeing 757-232, registered N684DA, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Naches, Washington. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 188 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's encounter with moderate turbulence at a higher altitude than the flight crew expected, resulting in an injury to a cabin crewmember.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2011 · about 6:39 am local time
- Place
- Naches, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 188 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757-232 · all 757-232s on the register
- Registration
- N684DA · registry record · serial 27104
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew of the scheduled domestic air carrier passenger flight was advised by the air route traffic control center that, due to a pilot report associated with the area of their routing, they should expect light-to-moderate chop during their descent between 20,000 feet and 16,000 feet. The flight crew, therefore, advised the passengers and the flight attendants that the descent would be bumpy and then advised the flight attendants that all descent and before-landing cabin securing activities should be completed about 10 minutes earlier than normal. Before the descent, the flight crew turned on the seatbelt sign and upon reaching 25,000 feet, the flying pilot began reducing the airspeed to that prescribed for turbulence penetration. As the airplane passed through 24,000 feet (4,000 feet higher than the altitude of the turbulence noted in the pilot report), three flight attendants were just finishing their activities, and the airplane suddenly encountered moderate turbulence for about 30 seconds. Due to the sudden movement of the airplane, the one remaining standing passenger and two of the flight attendants were thrown to the floor, one of whom sustained multiple bone fractures in her right foot.
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
What happened, in order
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Accuracy of related info
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,499 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 199 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 24, 2010
- 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: 3,753 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 153 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 21, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 61,800 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 11, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 232,000 lb
- Seats: 192
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P & W PW2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P & W PW2037 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
The flight
- Departed from: KSLC Salt Lake City at 4:54 am
- Destination: KSEA Seattle WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.52 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 am from KSEA, 80 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 3 | ||
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 183 |
Other NTSB records under N684DA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR11LA149.