# NTSB ANC11CA101: Douglas DC-8-62F, N71CX, Yakota, Japan, September 10, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2011, 06:55 local (06:55 UTC) - Place: Yakota, Japan - Coordinates: 21, 127.25 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.0000&lon=127.2500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 36 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81764 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81764/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81764 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA101 ## Probable cause The passenger's decision to ignore the fasten seatbelt sign, resulting in serious injury to the passenger during a turbulence encounter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC-8-62F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3021972), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Douglas DC-8-62F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3021972), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [Douglas DC-8-62F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3021972), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Douglas DC-8-62F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=3021972), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) ## Analysis The transport-category airplane was in international airspace, cruising at flight level 270 in the vicinity of thunderstorms, when the captain reported that he illuminated the cabin fasten seatbelt sign and ordered the cabin crew to take their seats and remain seated. The airplane then entered an area of continuous moderate turbulence. Fifteen minutes into the turbulence encounter, a passenger who did not have her seatbelt fastened sustained serious injury when she struck the ceiling of the airplane and then the armrest of her seat and the floor. The captain declared a medical emergency and diverted to the nearest airport. The passenger was hospitalized in excess of 48 hours. ## Factual narrative The transport category airplane was in international airspace cruising at flight level 270 in the vicinity of thunderstorms, when the captain reported he illuminated the cabin fasten seatbelt sign, and ordered the cabin crew to take their seats and remain seated. The airplane then entered an area of continuous moderate turbulence. Fifteen minutes into the turbulence encounter, a passenger, who did not have her seatbelt fastened, sustained serious injury when she struck the ceiling of the airplane, and then the armrest of her seat and the floor. The captain declared a medical emergency, and diverted to the nearest airport. The passenger was hospitalized in excess of 48 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71CX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71CX-2014-05-01), registration cancelled 2014-05-01, S/N 45961, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-8-62F - Registry model: [Douglas DC-8-62F](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-8-62f) (registry code 3021972) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3&3B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt3d-3-3b) (registry code 52039, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 45961 - Airframe hours: 75783 - Engines: P & W JT3D-3&3B 18000 lbs thrust turbo jet; P & W JT3D-3&3B 18000 lbs thrust turbo jet; P & W JT3D-3&3B 18000 lbs thrust turbo jet; P & W JT3D-7&3B 18000 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Air Transport International LLC, doing business as Air Transport International - Registered owner: Cargo Aircraft Management Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 8, 2010 - Departed: WASP, Singapore - Destination: RJTY, Tokyo - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 16,571 total, 9,305 in this make and model, 6,689 as pilot in command - Co-pilot; age 51; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 15, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 12,125 total, 570 in this make and model, 4,038 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Visibility: 1 statute miles ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110910026389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110910026389A), Sep 10, 2011: Douglas DC-8-62F, No damage. While enroute cruising at flight level 270 in the vicinty of thunderstorms, the aircraft encountered turbulence. The captain had previously illuminated the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81764. 162 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354868&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- 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.