# Accident 20011130036979A: Doug DC982, Romulus, MI, November 30, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: November 30, 2001, 12:25 local time - Place: Romulus, MI - Damage: No damage - Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121) - Operator: AALA - Location: 42.2302° N, 83.3899° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2302&lon=-83.3899&mi=10 - Aircraft: N488AA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N488AA-2019-09-06) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82) (registry code 3022082, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D series (registry code 52053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUG DC982 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA043) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011130036979A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON NOVEMBER 30, 2001, ABOUT 1225 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-82, N488AA, OPERATED AS AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT #321 NEW YORK TO CHICAGO, PILOTED BY AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED CAPTAIN AND COPILOT, SUSTAINED A SERIOUS IN-FLIGHT INJURY TO ONE PASSENGER WHEN THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE NEAR LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA. THE FLIGHT DIVERTED TO DETROIT METROPOLITAN WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT (DTW), NEAR ROMULUS, MICHIGAN. THE 14 CFR PART 121 SCHEDULED DOMESTIC PASSENGER FLIGHT WAS OPERATING ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 2 FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS, 3 CABIN CREWMEMBERS, AND REMAINING 89 PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM LA GUARDIA AIRPORT, NEAR NEW YORK, NEW YORK, AT 1102, AND WAS ENROUTE TO CHICAGO O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT LANDED AT DTW AT 1247. (-23) AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 321 WAS ENROUTE FROM NEW YORK (LGA) TO CHICAGO (ORD) AND HAD LEVELED OFF AT FL280 EAST OF LONDON, ONT. ON J-36. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FROM TAKEOFF. ON LEVEL OFF THE CAPTAIN HAD WARNED OF ROUGH AIR AHEAD AND THE NEED TO STAY SEATED. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED LIGHT CHOP AND THE CAPTAIN REQUESTED A DESCENT TO FL240. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED A BEVERAGE SERVICE AND WERE SEATED. MR. JOHN PANICKER (THE SUBSEQUENTLY INJURED PASSENGER) WAS AGAIN WARNED TO BE SEATED WHEN HE GOT UP TO USE THE REAR LAVATORY. WHILE HE WAS IN THE LAV, ANOTHER PA ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT SEAT BELT USAGE WAS MADE. AFTER MR. PANICKER EXITED THE LAV, HE WAS WARNED TO BE SEATED ONCE MORE. AT FL240 THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE WHILE MR. PANICKER WAS STILL IN THE AISLE. HE FELL TO THE FLOOR, COMPLAINING OF A BROKEN FOOT. THE CAPTAIN DESCENDED TO FL200 AND UPON HEARING OF THE PASSENGER'S INJURY DECIDED TO LAND AT DETROIT (DTW) TO SEE MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR MR. PANICKER. EMS MET THE FLIGHT AND MR. PANICKER WAS TAKEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL WHERE A BROKEN FOOT WAS CONFIRMED. A TURBULENCE INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED AT DTW BEFORE THE FLIGHT CONTINUED. ## 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 CHI02LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA043), Nov 30, 2001: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (N488AA), Romulus, MI, no damage. Probable cause: The turbulence encountered in-flight and the passenger not complying with the flight and cabin crew’s warning of the turbulance. ## Other reports on N488AA (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20091001022359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091001022359I), Oct 1, 2009: Doug DC982 (N488AA), Fresno, CA, No damage. Upon takeoff from rwy 29R at fat and climbing through 1700 msi, a strong hot dry burning smell was detected in both the cockpit throughout the cabin area.… - [Incident 19941207045619I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941207045619I), Dec 7, 1994: Doug DC982 (N488AA), Portland, OR. Nr 1 engine pulled back to idle due to vibration. Shutdown on ground. Suspect damage to fourth stage compressor. 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.