NTSB examines data recorder from turbulent United flight

The flight data recorder from United Airlines Flight 826 may yield answers about turbulence

December 30, 1997
Web posted at: 2:00 p.m. EST (1900 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The flight data recorder from the United Airlines flight that encountered severe air turbulence Sunday may contain limited data, the National Transportation Safety Board cautioned.

"Because of the age of the recorder, there are a limited number of parameters or characteristics measured," the safety agency said in a statement.

A 32-year-old Japanese woman died and more than 70 others were injured on Flight 826 when it hit severe turbulence and dropped about 1,000 feet two hours into its flight from Tokyo to Honolulu. The plane safely returned to Tokyo after the incident.

The NTSB is leading the investigation, because it occurred over international waters and the aircraft was U.S.-registered. The flight recorder arrived in Washington Monday night and was taken to the NTSB's laboratory.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• NTSB investigates United Airlines plunge - December 29, 1997
• 1 dead, scores hurt after United jet hits turbulence - December 28, 1997

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
• Federal Aviation Administration
• United Airlines
• Boeing Company
  • Boeing 747 Background

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

---

 

---

	further reading on Air Safety

Sound off on our message boards & chat

© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.