Probable cause
an encounter with forecasted convective turbulence during approach.
NTSB analysis
On December 23, 2020, about 1230 central standard time, United Airlines flight 1481, an Airbus A320-232, N463UA, encountered turbulence during approach into George Bush International Airport (KIAH), Houston, Texas. Of the 140 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from John Wayne Airport (KSNA), Orange County, California, to KIAH.
According to the flight crew, while reviewing the preflight weather, they noted rain showers and thunderstorms in the vicinity of KIAH for their arrival time. As the flight descended into KIAH, the flight crew observed numerous cumulous clouds in the area and between 12,000 and 10,000 feet, the captain “double chimed” the cabin (indicating that the cabin should be secured early) and made a public address (PA) announcement, stating “flight attendants take your jumpseats.” Shortly thereafter, the aircraft penetrated a towering cumulous cloud.
At the time the PA announcement was made, the flight attendants (FA) were conducting their before landing cabin checks. When the turbulence was encountered, the lead FA was secured in her jumpseat, but the two other FAs had just reached the aft galley and were about to sit down. One of the aft FAs was thrown to floor resulting in severe pain and numbness down both legs. The uninjured FA assisted her buckling into the jumpseat where she remained for the rest of the flight. Paramedics met the airplane at the gate and transported the injured FA to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis.
Post accident review of the weather indicated an area of convective turbulence from a developing area of thunderstorms immediately south and directly downwind of the flight track about the time the injury occurred.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA21LA058 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 23, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Houston, Texas
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Airbus Industrie A320-232
- N-number
- N463UA
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2000
- Operating rule
- Part 121 (airline)
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.