No fatalities

Turbulence Encounter Injures Flight Attendants During Cabin Service (N173DZ)

Portland, OR, US

On November 4, 2000, a Boeing 767-332ER (registration N173DZ) was involved in an aviation accident near Portland, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An inflight encounter with turbulence that occurred before flight attendants could finish stowing a beverage cart and return to their seats. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N173DZ
Aircraft registered N173DZ. Photo: Oleg V. Belyakov / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

During cabin service, an aircraft encountered turbulence with negative G forces, causing unseated flight attendants to be thrown upward. One sustained a foot fracture from an unsecured cart, and three others had minor injuries.

Incident Details

Approximately five to ten minutes after flight attendants began cabin service, the aircraft entered an area of light to moderate turbulence. The flight crew instructed the attendants to cease service and take their seats, and they initiated a descent to an altitude where the air was reported to be smooth. While the attendants were attempting to stow a beverage cart in the aft galley, the aircraft encountered turbulence that momentarily subjected it to negative G forces. The unseated flight attendants were thrown upward from the floor, and at least one struck her head on the ceiling. The unsecured beverage cart landed on top of this attendant's foot, fracturing bones in her foot.

Injuries

In addition to the flight attendant with a fractured foot, three other flight attendants sustained minor injuries. The flight crew reported that the encounter occurred during the descent just above flight level (FL) 330, approximately 90 miles east of the Kimberly, Oregon (IMB) VORTAC.

Aftermath

Upon being notified of the situation, the flight crew took actions to address the incident and continued to the flight's destination. The remainder of the flight proceeded without further event.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 4 Nov 2000 Boeing 767-332ER accident near Portland, OR?

During cabin service, an aircraft encountered turbulence with negative G forces, causing unseated flight attendants to be thrown upward. One sustained a foot fracture from an unsecured cart, and three others had minor injuries.

Were there any fatalities in the 4 Nov 2000 Boeing 767-332ER accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 4 Nov 2000 involved a Boeing 767-332ER, registration N173DZ, at Portland, OR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

An inflight encounter with turbulence that occurred before flight attendants could finish stowing a beverage cart and return to their seats.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001220X45467. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.