Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 7 April 1996
Aircraft Type: Boeing 757-223
Owner/operator: American Airlines
Registration Number: N653A
Location: Atlantic Ocean –
ÿ Atlantic Ocean
Phase of Flight: Unknown
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 194
Component Affected: Aisle cartAisle cart
Category: Accident
A flight experienced an unexpected and severe turbulence encounter at 31,000 feet msl, resulting in a cart becoming airborne and striking a flight attendant. The turbulence was unforecasted.A flight experienced an unexpected and severe turbulence encounter at 31,000 feet msl, resulting in a cart becoming airborne and striking a flight attendant. The turbulence was unforecasted.
Description
The pilots reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 31,000 feet msl, when it encountered an area of unexpected severe turbulence. They indicated that the flight had been uneventful and smooth prior to the brief turbulence encounter. During the turbulence encounter, one of the aisle carts became airborne and struck a flight attendant’s leg when it landed. There was no forecast for turbulence along the airplane’s planned route of flight. Probable Cause: the in-flight encounter with unforecast, unexpected turbulence.
Primary Cause
Unexpected, unforeseen turbulence encountered during flight.Unexpected, unforeseen turbulence encountered during flight.Share on:
