Wednesday, March 14, 2018

American Airlines, McDonnell Douglas MD-83, N9615W: Accident occurred March 09, 2017 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), Texas



Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms 

Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N9615W

Location:  Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), TX
Accident Number: DCA17CA079
Date & Time: 03/09/2017, 1915 CST
Registration: N9615W
Aircraft: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC 9 83(MD-83)
Aircraft Damage: Minor
Defining Event: Turbulence encounter
Injuries: 1 Serious, 106 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air Carrier - Scheduled

Analysis 

On March 9, 2017 at 1915 central standard time, American Airlines flight 2588, a Boeing MD-83, N9615W, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), encountered turbulence at flight level 280 (FL280) during cruise flight from Toronto, Ontario, Canada to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas, Texas, resulting in a serious injury to one of the flight attendants (FA). None of the other passengers and crew members were injured and the airplane received minor damage.

According to the operator, while enroute to DFW at FL 280, in intermittent IMC conditions at 0.74 Mach, the flight crew was deviating left of assigned course to avoid weather and was northeast of Memphis . The seat belt sign was on and the on-board radar was not depicting any precipitation. The aircraft experienced unexpected turbulence. The #2 and the #4 FAs were seated in their jumpseats in the rear of the aircraft, however, their seatbelts were not fastened. Both the #2 and the #4 FAs struck the overhead ceiling panel and fell to the floor. No passengers reported injuries and the FAs were able to complete their duties. Emergency Medical Service personnel met the FAs at the gate and transported to the hospital. Both FAs were treated and released from the hospital that evening, however, the #2 FA was later diagnosed with fractures to her vertebrae. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence.

Findings

Environmental issues
Convective turbulence - Effect on personnel (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute
Turbulence encounter (Defining event) 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 61
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/24/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/12/2016
Flight Time:  14147 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1 hours (Total, this make and model), 2500 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)

Co-Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 33
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification:  Class 1 Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/06/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 10/08/2016
Flight Time:  756 hours (Total, this make and model) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
Registration: N9615W
Model/Series: DC 9 83(MD-83) 83
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1997
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Transport
Serial Number: 53562
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 146
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 160000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Turbo Fan
Airframe Total Time:  56242 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: JT8D-219
Registered Owner: Wells Fargo
Rated Power: 21000 lbs
Operator: American Airlines
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Flag carrier (121)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: AALA 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition:  Thin Overcast
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:  
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting:
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point:  Toronto, ON (YYZ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
Type of Clearance:  IFR
Departure Time: 1820
Type of Airspace: Unknown 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious, 6 None
Aircraft Damage: Minor
Passenger Injuries: 100 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries:  1 Serious, 106 None
Latitude, Longitude:  32.900000, -97.040556

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