What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) According to the pilot, the airplane was descending through 17,000 feet for an approach into Raleigh, north carolina when severe turbulence was encountered. The flight attendants were securing the passenger cabin and galley for landing at the time of the occurrence. The pilot reported that the fasten seat belt sign was on. According to the pilot, clear air turbulence was not forecasted. Examination, the digital flight data recorder (dfdr) revealed that the turbulence was encountered at an altitude of approximately 17,462 feet on a magnetic heading of approximately 144 degrees. The dfdr also indicated that during the turbulence, vertical acceleration reached a maximum of 2.05 g's and a minimum of -.49 g's. (-23) on descent onto rdu, 10 mi. Nw of south boston VOR, passing thru 17K, aircraft hit turbulence, 4 flight attendants injured. 1 serious, 3 minor. One of the flight attendants was not on duty.
As the FAA filed it
(.4) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING THROUGH 17,000 FEET FOR AN APPROACH INTO RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA WHEN SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WERE SECURING THE PASSENGER CABIN AND GALLEY FOR LANDING AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FASTEN SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ON. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE WAS NOT FORECASTED. EXAMINATION, THE DIGITAL FLIGHT DATA RECORDER (DFDR) REVEALED THAT THE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 17,462 FEET ON A MAGNETIC HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 144 DEGREES. THE DFDR ALSO INDICATED THAT DURING THE TURBULENCE, VERTICAL ACCELERATION REACHED A MAXIMUM OF 2.05 G'S AND A MINIMUM OF -.49 G'S. (-23) ON DESCENT ONTO RDU, 10 MI. NW OF SOUTH BOSTON VOR, PASSING THRU 17K, AIRCRAFT HIT TURBULENCE, 4 FLIGHT ATTENDANTS INJURED. 1 SERIOUS, 3 MINOR. ONE OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WAS NOT ON DUTY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.