# Accident 19971211045509A: Saab 340B, Ventura, CA, December 11, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 11, 1997, 05:35 local time
- Place: Ventura, CA
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: WWMA
- Location: 34.1893° N, 119.1709° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1893&lon=-119.1709&mi=10
- Aircraft: N329AE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N329AE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Saab-Scania SAAB 340B (registry code 7860101, https://openairdocs.org/model/saab-scania-saab-340b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: GE CT7-SER series (registry code 30031, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-ct7-ser-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SAAB 340B
- Reported engine: GE CT79B
- People aboard: 17
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 4,505 in this make and model, 252 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971211045509A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE CAPTAIN REPORTED THAT 20 MINUTES INTO A SMOOTH FLIGHT, AND 10 MINUTES BEFORE LANDING, HE FELT SOME LIGHT CHOP SO HE TURNED ON THE SEAT BELT SIGN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THEY EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND VIOLENT SEVERE TURBULENCE. AT THAT TIME, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT HAD COMPLETED HER SERVICE AND WAS ABOUT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SEAT BELT SIGN OVER THE PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM PRIOR TO HER BEING SEATED FOR LANDING. ACCORDING TO THE CREW, NO VALID SIGMET W AS ISSUED AND NO AIRMET OR PIREPS WERE AVAILABLE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA057), Dec 11, 1997: Saab-Scania 340B (N329AE), Ventura, CA, no damage. Probable cause: Seat belt not used. A related factor was the unforecasted severe air turbulence.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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