Incident Overview
An aircraft cruising at Flight Level 350 near Goshen, Indiana, encountered unforecast severe clear air turbulence (CAT). The encounter caused the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent, which was arrested at 31,500 feet. After the event, the flight continued to Denver without further incident.
Injuries and Aircraft Condition
A total of seventeen passengers and five flight attendants sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was inspected and found to be airworthy, with no damage reported.
Warnings and Weather Information
The crew's only warning regarding the possibility of CAT was a pilot report (PIREP) relayed by the center controller, which indicated moderate or less turbulence in the area. No other warnings or forecasts had predicted the severe conditions encountered.