Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 27 February 2011
Aircraft Type: Boeing 757-232
Owner/operator: Delta Air Lines
Registration Number: N684DA
Location: Naches, Washington – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 190
Component Affected: Airplane’s flight control systems and trajectory.Airplane’s flight control systems and trajectory.
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A scheduled domestic air carrier flight experienced moderate turbulence at an altitude exceeding the pilot’s predicted level. The flight crew immediately initiated procedures to mitigate the impact of the turbulence, including seatbelt deployment and airspeed reduction. A sudden and unexpected shift in the aircraft’s trajectory caused a fall for one passenger and two flight attendants, resulting in multiple fractures to one passenger’s foot. The incident was likely caused by the pilot’s unexpected response to the turbulence.A scheduled domestic air carrier flight experienced moderate turbulence at an altitude exceeding the pilot’s predicted level. The flight crew immediately initiated procedures to mitigate the impact of the turbulence, including seatbelt deployment and airspeed reduction. A sudden and unexpected shift in the aircraft’s trajectory caused a fall for one passenger and two flight attendants, resulting in multiple fractures to one passenger’s foot. The incident was likely caused by the pilot’s unexpected response to the turbulence.

Description

The flight crew of the scheduled domestic air carrier passenger flight was advised by the air route traffic control center that, due to a pilot report associated with the area of their routing, they should expect light-to-moderate chop during their descent between 20,000 feet and 16,000 feet. The flight crew, therefore, advised the passengers and the flight attendants that the descent would be bumpy and then advised the flight attendants that all descent and before-landing cabin securing activities should be completed about 10 minutes earlier than normal. Before the descent, the flight crew turned on the seatbelt sign and upon reaching 25,000 feet, the flying pilot began reducing the airspeed to that prescribed for turbulence penetration. As the airplane passed through 24,000 feet (4,000 feet higher than the altitude of the turbulence noted in the pilot report), three flight attendants were just finishing their activities, and the airplane suddenly encountered moderate turbulence for about 30 seconds. Due to the sudden movement of the airplane, the one remaining standing passenger and two of the flight attendants were thrown to the floor, one of whom sustained multiple bone fractures in her right foot. Probable Cause: The airplane’s encounter with moderate turbulence at a higher altitude than the flight crew expected, resulting in an injury to a cabin crewmember.

Primary Cause

Pilot’s unexpected response to turbulence at a higher altitude than anticipated.Pilot’s unexpected response to turbulence at a higher altitude than anticipated.

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