Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 9 August 1990
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-3H4
Owner/operator: Southwest Airlines
Registration Number: N327SW
Location: Corpus Christi, TX –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 76
Component Affected: Airplane BoneAirplane Bone
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A flight cruising at 330 knots encountered Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) and was thrown about the cabin, resulting in a fractured bone requiring hospitalization for more than 48 hours. The Captain deviated around Cirrus and Cumulus clouds during the incident. The probable cause was the unexpected encounter with CAT.A flight cruising at 330 knots encountered Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) and was thrown about the cabin, resulting in a fractured bone requiring hospitalization for more than 48 hours. The Captain deviated around Cirrus and Cumulus clouds during the incident. The probable cause was the unexpected encounter with CAT.
Description
THE SCHEDULED PASSENGER AIRLINE FLIGHT WAS IN CRUISE AT FL 330 WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE (CAT). A FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS THROWN ABOUT THE CABIN AND LANDED ON HER COCCYX BONE WHICH FRACTURED REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION FOR MORE THAN 48 HOURS. THE CAPTAIN WAS DEVIATING AROUND CIRRUS AND CUMULUS CLOUDS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. Probable Cause: THE AIRPLANE’S UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE.
Primary Cause
Clear Air Turbulence (CAT)Clear Air Turbulence (CAT)Share on:
