# NTSB ATL02LA111: Boeing 757-200, N626DL, Atlanta, GA, May 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 2002, 13:08 local (17:08 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.645, -84.433052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6450&lon=-84.4331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 91 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Delta Certificate Management Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 54855 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54855/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54855 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA111 ## Probable cause In-flight encounter with turbulence during descent, that resulted in an serious injury to the flight attendant. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (cause) - descent - initiated, flightcrew (cause) ## Analysis A flight attendant was preparing the cabin for landing on a Boeing 767-200 when the airplane experienced turbulence. The flight was deviating around cumulonimbus clouds at approximately 11,500 feet, and the seat belt signs were illuminated; all passengers were seated at the time. The flight attendant was thrown around the rear of the cabin and injured. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 2002,at 1308 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 757-200, N626DL, registered to Delta Airlines Inc, operating as Flight 721, encountered turbulence on descent to land at Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. The domestic passenger flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was not damaged. One flight attendant received serious injuries. The airline transport rated captain, the airline transport rated first officer and the 88 passengers were not injured. The passenger flight departed Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, at 1040 central daylight time. According to the captain, flight 721 was cleared to descend out of flight level 240, and at this time the " fasten seat belt sign" was illuminated. The weather condition for the arrival consisted of broken clouds at approximately 10,000 feet. There were no reports of enroute or destination turbulence. Flight 721 was deviating around cumulonimbus clouds at approximately 11,500 feet over Rome, Georgia when the airplane entered an area of turbulence. The injured flight attendant was completing pre-landing checks for the cabin when the airplane encountered turbulence during the descent into Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. The flight attendant was injured when she was jolted around the rear of the passenger cabin. According to the flight attendants, prior to the initial approach into Hartsfield International Airport, they were preparing both cabins and galleys for landing. Without any advanced warning they unexpectedly encountered severe turbulence that lasted for a brief period of time. This severe turbulence was then followed by moderate turbulence. After the moderate turbulence one of the aft flight attendants were injured and needed medical attention. The flight attendants notified the cockpit and requested paramedics after landing. The flight attendants received a return call confirming that paramedics were alerted and would meet the flight after landing. According to the lead flight attendant, the seat belt sign was turned on, and the airplane was on its initial descent into Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. A passenger rang the call light for assistance with an ear pain. As the attendant went back towards the galley to get the passenger first aid, the airplane was suddenly jolted by turbulence. The flight attendant stated, she " flew into the air and was jarred around". When the turbulence stopped, the flight attendant hit the floor slid back towards the galley. The flight attendant called for assistance from another attendant, and contacted the captain to inform him of the situation. After the airplane landed paramedics came on board to administer first aid to the left foot of the injured flight attendant. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N626DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N626DL-2019-02-12), registration cancelled 2019-02-12, S/N 22916, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 757-200 - Registry model: [Boeing 757-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-232) (registry code 1384965) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW2037](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw2037) (registry code 52117, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22916 - Airframe hours: 51316 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney 2037 37000 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney 2037 37000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Air Lines Inc, doing business as Delta Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 8, 2002, 6 hours before - Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL - Destination: ATL, ATLANTA, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ATL, The William B Hartsfield Atlan, runway 8, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review May 24, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 17,000 total, 642 in this make and model, 165 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 18, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 9,700 total, 2,043 in this make and model, 216 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 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 20020529026529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020529026529A), May 29, 2002: Boeing 757232, Atlanta, GA. (-23) When the flight was cleared to descent out of FL 240 the "fasten seat belt sign" was turned on. Sky conditions on the arrival consisted of broken clouds… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54855. 588 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Flight Attendant's Statements (item 3, .PDF, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Attendant%27s%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Weather (item 4, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170330&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-Master.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.