# NTSB ATL00LA092: Bombardier CRJ, N853AS, Atlanta, GA, September 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 2000, 18:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.75045, -84.390373 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7505&lon=-84.3904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 50 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51040/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA092 ## Probable cause The inadvertent flight into turbulent weather conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - turbulence (cause) ## Analysis According to the Captain and Flight Attendant, the flight from Worcester, Massachusetts, was smooth at (Flight Level) FL350 until passing the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, at which time an area of light to moderate turbulence was entered. The Captain instructed the Flight Attendant to take her seat, and turned on the fasten seat belt sign. Flight altitude was changed three times looking for a smoother ride. The flight continued on, in relatively smooth air for two or three minutes then moderate turbulence, for one to two minutes. After entering an area of smooth air, the Flight Attendant continued her duties of preparing the cabin for landing. Without warning, the airplane entered another area of turbulence and the Flight Attendant was thrown about the cabin, injuring her ankles. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2000, at 1820 eastern daylight time, a Bombardier CRJ, N853AS, encountered in-flight turbulence at Flight Level (FL) 260 while enroute to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, in Atlanta, Georgia. The airplane was operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines as Flight 4583 under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 121, and instrument flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The Airline Transport Captain, First Officer and 48 passengers were not injured, the Flight Attendant for the flight sustained serious injuries. The airplane did not receive any damage. The flight had originated from the Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, Massachusetts, at 1615. According to the Captain and Flight Attendant, the flight from Worcester, Massachusetts, was smooth at FL350 until passing the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, at which time an area of light to moderate turbulence was encountered. The Captain instructed the Flight Attendant to take her seat and turned on the fasten seat belt sign. Flight altitude was changed three times looking for a smoother ride. The flight would shift from relatively smooth air for two or three minutes to moderate turbulence for one to two minutes. After entering an area of smooth air, the Flight Attendant continued her duties of preparing the cabin for landing. Without warning, the airplane entered another area of turbulence and the Flight Attendant was thrown about the cabin, injuring her ankles. The Captain called ahead for medical assistance to meet the airplane at the gate while the First Officer went back to check on the Flight Attendant's condition. The flight landed in Atlanta and medical personnel met the plane at the gate. Subsequent medical reports revealed that the Flight Attendant sustained a broken left ankle and a sprained right ankle. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the flight crew, and weather at the time was winds 240 degrees, and 15 knots, with light to moderate turbulence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N853AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N853AS-2018-07-30), registration cancelled 2018-07-30, S/N 7374, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bombardier CRJ - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b19) (registry code 1390008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7374 - Airframe hours: 3829 - Engines: GE CF34-3B1 turbo jet - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Atlantic Southeast Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: ORH, WORCESTER, MA - Destination: ATL, ALTANTA, GA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,860 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ATL ## 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 20000917015549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000917015549A), Sep 17, 2000: Cndair CL6002B19, Atlanta, GA, No damage. (-23) A/c encountered clear air turbulance at flight level 260 resulting in flight attendent receiving serious injuries. A/c was twenty minutes from landing at… 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.