# Accident 19990201027869A: Airbus A320232, Las Vegas, NV, February 1, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: February 1, 1999, 07:10 local time - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Phase of flight: Normal Cruise - Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121) - Operator: AWXA - Location: 36.1750° N, 115.1372° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Las Vegas, NV, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1750&lon=-115.1372&mi=10 - Aircraft: N640AW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N640AW-2016-07-12) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Airbus Industrie A320-232 (registry code 3930326, https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a320-232) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: IAE V2500SERIES (registry code 34601, https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2500series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A320232 - People aboard: 134 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA087) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990201027869A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON FEBRUARY 1, 1999, ABOUT 0710 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED HIP ON AMERICA WEST AIRLINES FLIGHT 5 WHILE EN ROUTE BETWEEN TAMPA, FLORIDA, AND LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT FLIGHT LEVEL 310, APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM TAMPA. THE AIRCRAFT, AN AIRBUS A320-232, N640AW, WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE CAPTAIN, FIRST OFFICER, 3 CABIN ATTENDANTS AND THE REMAINING 129 PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 121 OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS AS A SCHEDULED DOMESTIC PASSENGER FLIGHT, WHICH ORIGINATED IN TAMPA AT 0830 EASTERN STANDARD TIME AS A NON-STOP FLIGHT TO LAS VEGAS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENTS OF THE THREE CABIN ATTENDANTS AND THE FLIGHT CREW, THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ILLUMINATED AND SEVERAL PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE FOR THE PASSENGERS TO REMAIN SEATED WITH THEIR SEAT BELTS FASTENED. A 70-YEAR-OLD MALE PASSENGER IN SEAT 23C GOT UP AND BEGAN WALKING TOWARD THE AFT LAVATORY. ONE CABIN ATTENDANT TOLD THE PASSENGER TO RETURN TO HIS SEAT. THE PASSENGER, WHO HAS TWO ARTIFICIAL LEGS, IGNORED THE CABIN ATTENDANT'S INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUED TO THE AFT GALLEY AREA WHERE HE FELL, FRACTURING HIS HIP. THE CREW OBTAINED MEDICAL ADVICE BY RADIO AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ITS DESTINATION. (.4)ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENTS OF THE THREE CABIN ATTENDANTS AND THE FLIGHT CREW, THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN IN LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE FOR MOST OF THE FLIGHT. THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ILLUMINATED AND SEVERAL PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE FOR THE PASSENGERS TO REMAIN SEATED WITH THEIR SEAT BELTS FASTENED. THE FLIGHT AND CABIN CREWMEMBERS REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE TURBULENCE HAD ABATED AND THE RIDE WAS SMOOTH; HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT SIGN REMAINED ILLUMINATED. A 70-YEAR-OLD MALE PASSENGER IN SEAT 23C GOT UP AND BEGAN WALKING TOWARD THE AFT LAVATORY. ONE CABIN ATTENDANT TOLD THE PASSENGER TO RETURN TO HIS SEAT UNLESS IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY TO VISIT THE LAVATORY. THE PASSENGER, WHO HAS TWO ARTIFICIAL LEGS, DECLINED TO FOLLOW THE CABIN ATTENDANT'S INSTRUCTION AND CONTIN UED TO THE AFT GALLEY AREA WHERE HE FELL, FRACTURING HIS HIP. THE CREW OBTAINED MEDICAL ADVICE BY RADIO FROM MED LICK, AND, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH A PHYSICIAN, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ITS DESTINATION. (-23)THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE FASTEN SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ILLUMINATED AND SEVERAL P.A. ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE MADE FOR THE PASSENGERS TO REMAIN SEATED. A PASSENGER GOT UP AND STARTED WALKING TOWARD THE AFT LAVATORY. THE PASSENGER FELL AND SUBSTAINED HIP INJURIES. ## 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 LAX99LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA087), Feb 1, 1999: Airbus Industrie A-320-232 (N640AW), Las Vegas, NV, no damage. Probable cause: The injured passenger's failure to follow the instructions of the cabin attendants. ## Other reports on N640AW (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19990802024949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990802024949I), Aug 2, 1999: Airbus A320232 (N640AW), Omaha, NE. On August 20, 1999, america west flight 2312, enroute from las vegas, NV to columbus oh, diverted to Eppley Airfield, Omaha, NE, due to a cracked left hand… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.