Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 26 March 1997
Aircraft Type: Dassault Falcon 900B
Owner/operator: MCI Systemhouse Corp.
Registration Number: N332MC
Location: Chamblee, GA –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Unknown
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Flight attendantFlight attendant
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
An aircraft experienced moderate turbulence at 31,000 feet, followed by a sudden drop of approximately 10-15 feet during descent. This resulted in a flight attendant falling to the floor in the aft lavatory, causing a broken ankle. The incident was attributed to encounter with clear air turbulence.An aircraft experienced moderate turbulence at 31,000 feet, followed by a sudden drop of approximately 10-15 feet during descent. This resulted in a flight attendant falling to the floor in the aft lavatory, causing a broken ankle. The incident was attributed to encounter with clear air turbulence.
Description
As the airplane was cruising at 31,000 feet, light turbulence was encountered. The flight was cleared to descend in preparation for landing at the destination airport. Passing through 30,000 feet, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence. As the airplane descended through 27,000 feet, there was a sudden drop of about 10 to 15 feet, which resulted in the flight attendant falling to the floor in the aft lavatory. Her fall resulted in a broken ankle. Probable Cause: an encounter with clear air turbulence, which led to injury of the flight attendant. A factor associated with the accident was: that the flight attendant was not being restrained by a seat belt.
Primary Cause
Clear air turbulenceClear air turbulenceShare on:
