Boeing 767-232 – N109DL – Air Crash Data

Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 29 September 2004

Aircraft Type: Boeing 767-232

Owner/operator: Delta Air Lines

Registration Number: N109DL

Location: 130 miles north of Aruba [Caribbean Sea] – ÿ Atlantic Ocean

Phase of Flight: En route

Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 145

Component Affected: Flight Data Recorder (FDR)Flight Data Recorder (FDR)

Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB

Category: Accident

On [Date], an aviation incident occurred involving a flight involving [Aircraft Type] at [Departure Location]. The Captain issued a public address instructing passengers to remain seated with their seat belts fastened due to brief, moderate turbulence. Prior to the turbulence, the Captain had previously illuminated the seat belt sign. Following this, the Captain contacted flight attendants to ensure all passengers were seated. The Captain then requested clearance to deviate around known weather ahead of the flight path. The flight crew reported experiencing brief, moderate turbulence, lasting approximately 5 seconds, with the turbulence occurring within instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The turbulence was followed by a brief period of cloud formation, but no precipitation was observed on radar. The flight attendant was injured during this time. The Captain then turned on the seat belt sign and requested passengers to remain seated. Examination of flight data recorder data revealed multiple vertical acceleration cycles, indicating a significant impact. The incident is likely attributable to an inadverent encounter with severe turbulence, resulting in a flight attendant’s injury.On [Date], an aviation incident occurred involving a flight involving [Aircraft Type] at [Departure Location]. The Captain issued a public address instructing passengers to remain seated with their seat belts fastened due to brief, moderate turbulence. Prior to the turbulence, the Captain had previously illuminated the seat belt sign. Following this, the Captain contacted flight attendants to ensure all passengers were seated. The Captain then requested clearance to deviate around known weather ahead of the flight path. The flight crew reported experiencing brief, moderate turbulence, lasting approximately 5 seconds, with the turbulence occurring within instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The turbulence was followed by a brief period of cloud formation, but no precipitation was observed on radar. The flight attendant was injured during this time. The Captain then turned on the seat belt sign and requested passengers to remain seated. Examination of flight data recorder data revealed multiple vertical acceleration cycles, indicating a significant impact. The incident is likely attributable to an inadverent encounter with severe turbulence, resulting in a flight attendant’s injury.

Description

The captain said the seat belt sign was illuminated and he made a public address requesting that passengers stay seated with their seat belts fastened. He said they encountered very brief moderate turbulence and a flight attendant was injured. The first officer/pilot-not-flying stated that prior to the turbulence event the captain had illuminated the seat belt sign, and had made a public address. The first officer also said that he had contacted the flight attendants and told them to stay seated. He said he then requested and received clearance to deviate around known weather ahead of their flight path. He said they did not penetrate any weather as seen on the airplane’s display, but that they were in instrument meteorological conditions, and returned to visual meteorological conditions momentarily, after which another cloud was in front of them, but there was no precipitation associated with it on the radar display. He said there was not enough time to maneuver, and they were within the cloud for about 5 seconds at which time the turbulence occurred. One flight attendant stated that the time between the captain’s announcement and the actual turbulence was a mere few seconds. A second flight attendant stated that she along with two other flight attendants were in the aft galley when the seat belt light was turned on to indicate initial approach when about 20 minutes away from Aruba. She further stated that there was normal light chop as they prepared the galley for landing. The second flight attendant said that the passengers were seated, when suddenly they encountered severe turbulence and the airplane dropped and jolted several times. A third flight attendant said that approximately 100 miles out from Aruba the captain turned on the seat belt sign and asked every one to be seated. She said the two flight attendants in the back were cleaning and stowing catering items and were not seated. Examination of the flight data recorder showed multiple vertical acceleration cycles between about positive 1.8 and 0.0 Gs, associated with the event. Probable Cause: An inadvertent encounter with severe turbulence during cruise, which resulted in a flight attendant being injured.