Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Savannah, Georgia 31401
Tuesady, August 30, 1988 15:59 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE CRUISING AT FL 310, USAIR FLIGHT 333 ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED OBSERVING THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ON THE AIRBORNE RADAR. THE FLIGHT WAS WITHIN 20 MILES OF THE CELL BEFORE ACTION WAS TAKEN TO AVOID THE ENCOUNTER. THE RECOMMENDED PENETRATION AIRSPEED IS .70 MACH OR 280 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED MAINTAINING .76 MACH DURING THE ENCOUNTER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 8/30/1988
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1559
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SAVANNAH
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31401
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 13
Injury Total None 81
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 13
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5069
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38165
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:01PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N353AU
NTSB Number ATL88IA241
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING
Aircraft Model 737-387
Aircraft Series Identifier 737-387
Aircraft Serial Number 22953
Certified Max Gross Weight 115000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 149
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name USAIR
Aircraft Owner Street Address WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City WASHINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20001
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name USAIR
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code USAA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PITT
Departure City PITTSBURGH
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1331
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FLL
Destination City FT. LAUDERDALE
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --