Accident Boeing 747-338 VH-EBT, Sunday 2 August 1987

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Date:	Sunday 2 August 1987
Time:	12:47
Type:	Boeing 747-338
Owner/operator:	Qantas
Registration:	VH-EBT
MSN:	23222/602
Year of manufacture:	1984
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 349
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Minor
Category:	Accident
Location:	30 km S of Guam - Guam
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Tokyo-Narita Airport (NRT/RJAA)
Destination airport:	Sydney Airport, NSW (SYD)
Investigating agency:	ATSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
En route, isolated thunderstorm activity was observed on the weather radar. A continuous radar watch was maintained, and the aircraft made a number of diversions from the planned track. About 30 km south of Guam the aircraft entered an area of severe turbulence for about 30 sec with accelerations of plus 1.8 g to minus 0.4 g. there were no radar returns. The aircraft was flying in cirrus cloud, and no lightning had been observed.
Most of the injured pax had been asleep, with their seatbelts unfastened. An announcement had been made in English and Japanese after departure, that pax should have their seatbelts fastened when seated. The seat belt signs were switched on at the onset of the turbulence.
As the injuries did not warrant a diversion, and the aircraft was apparently structurally and mechanically unaffected, the pilot elected to proceed to Sydney.

Accident investigation: