# NTSB ATL01LA049: Boeing 737-200, N253US, Jacksonville, FL, April 17, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 17, 2001, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Jacksonville, FL - Location: 30.3322° N, 81.6557° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Jacksonville, FL, within about 15 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3322&lon=-81.6557&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 76 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52194 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52194/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA049 ## Probable cause The flight dispatcher failure to provide the flight crew with current in-flight turbulence information that resulted in the in-flight encounter with turbulence during climb. A factor was the pilots failure to obtain adequate weather information. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise - preflight briefing service - inadequate, dispatcher (cause) - weather condition - turbulence (cause) ## Analysis Approximately 12-15 minutes after takeoff during climb, flight 2686 experienced moderate turbulence. The seat belt sign was illuminated at the time. One of the flight attendants was thrown to the floor and received serious injuries during the encounter. According to the pilot, the flight crew was not informed of the 0736 pilot report of turbulence in the vicinity of the accident. ## Factual narrative About 0830 eastern daylight time, on April 17, 2001, a Boeing Aircraft Company 737-200, N253UA, operated by US Airways as Flight 2686, encountered severe turbulence during climb out from Baltimore-Washington International Airport in Baltimore, Maryland. Flight 2686 was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121, as a scheduled, domestic passenger flight from Baltimore, Maryland, to Jacksonville, Florida. The flight departed Baltimore-Washington, Maryland, at an undetermined time. There were four crewmembers and 73 revenue passengers on board. One cabin attendant received serious injuries, and another cabin attendant received minor injuries. Undetermined weather conditions at altitude prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight operated under instrument flight rules with a flight plan filed. The flight continued to Jacksonville, Florida, without further incident. According to the pilot, no significant forecasts or pilot reports for turbulent weather were given during the preflight weather briefing by the dispatcher for his route of flight. Approximately 12-15 minutes after takeoff, at an altitude of 19,000 feet, the airplane unexpectedly encountered several areas of moderate turbulence. The "FASTEN SEAT BELT " sign was illuminated at the time of the encounter and the flight attendants were in the cabin preparing to serve the passengers. As they continued their duties, one flight attendant was thrown to the floor during an encounter. After the pilot instructed the flight attendants to take their seats, he was told that one flight attendants had sustained an ankle injury. The flight continued and landed at Jacksonville, Florida, without further incident. A review of National Weather Service information revealed that an AIRMET issued at 0945 hours forecast " occasional moderate turbulence between FL240 and FL350 associated with an upper trough. Conditions expected to continue beyond 1000 hours thru 1600 hours." The area covered in the AIRMET included Maryland and Virginia. A pilot report issued at 0736 hours over Baltimore, Maryland, by a Boeing 757 stated "moderate turbulence was encountered during the climb between 7,000 and 12,000 feet and light turbulence above. " The pilot was not informed of the 0736 pilot report. ## Aircraft - Registration: N253US (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737-200 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19972 - Airframe hours: 51151 - Engines: P&W JT8D-9 15000 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: US Airways - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 1, 2001 - Departed: BWI, Baltimore, FL - Destination: JAX, Jacksonville, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JAX, Jacksonville Intl, runway 7, 8,000 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 15, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 11,663 total, 12 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 31; injuries: none; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,061 total, 225 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 16 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: ORF 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.