19990916037259A

(.19) On September 16, 1999, at 2147 hours pacific daylight time, an america west Airbus A320-321, N628AW, flight 2569, encountered turbulence while on descent into the Las Vegas, Nevada, area. The aircraft was not damaged; however, 3 flight attendants and 5 passengers received minor injuries while 1 passenger received serious injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a scheduled domestic passenger flight by america west airlines, inc., under 14 CFR part 121 when the accident occurred. The flight originated in seattle, Washington at 1955 on the evening of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed. The captain reported that he was at flight level (FL) 250 about 40 distance measuring equipment (DME) miles southeast of beatty visual omni range (VOR). He had been deviating around thunderstorms while he used airborne radar to identify the severe cells. It was a dark night and he was unable to make visual contact with the severe weather. The turbulence encounter lasted about 5 seconds with 1 large "bump" that was accompanied by a 100-foot altitude gain in less than 2 seconds. Flight attendants reported injuries to several passengers. The captain then contacted Las Vegas flight operations and requested that emergency medical equipment meet the aircraft at the gate. The captain stated that he had turned on the seat belt sign 45 minutes before the accident due to "light chop" that he had encountered earlier in the flight. He made a public address (pa) announcement in which he told the passengers to return to their seats and to fasten their seat belts. About 20 minutes prior to the accident, he directed the flight attendants to suspend service and to secure the cabin. Once again, he made a pa announcement advising passengers of the increased chance of turbulence during the remainder of the flight. Emergency medical personnel met the aircraft at the gate and six passengers were transported to area hospitals. The three flight attendants were treated by paramedics at the scene and released. Although offered medical attention, two passengers refused medical treatment. (-23) the a/c was in a descent while trying to avoid thunderstorms. The a/c encountered turbulence. Several flight attendants and passengers received injuries to the turbulence.