# NTSB ATL03LA014: McDonnell Douglas MD-82, N479AA, Orlando, FL, November 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 6, 2002, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.428888, -81.316108 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4289&lon=-81.3161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 75 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Orlando FSDO - 15 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56034 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56034/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA014 ## Probable cause The airplane's inflight encounter with turbulence that resulted in injuries to the number two flight attendant. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal - weather condition - turbulence (cause) ## Analysis According to the Captain, the airplane encountered a moderate bump of turbulence, about one second in duration. He stated that the airplane was skimming a broken layer of clouds with about 2,000 feet of vertical buildup. He stated that the preparation for landing public address was given about six minutes before the airplane encountered the turbulence. According to the Captain, there was "nothing on the radar or visual observation of the sky condition to suggest any more than light turbulence. The number one flight attendant stated the Captain told the flight attendants that there might be turbulence ahead and for them to clean up and sit down. She stated that they were in the process of cleaning up "when it got really bad," and she had to hold onto the seatback. She stated that she saw the number two flight attendant's legs extending into the aisle. The number one flight attendant stated that the number two flight attendant had fallen onto her ankle and she helped her into her seat. At the gate, emergency personnel put a splint on her ankle and transported her to the hospital, where it was later discovered that her ankle was broken. ## Factual narrative On November 6, 2002, at 0945 eastern standard time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, N479AA, registered to and operated by American Airlines, Inc. as flight 1258, encountered turbulence during descent into Orlando International Airport, Orlando, Florida. The scheduled air carrier flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121, and instrument flight rules (IFR). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated Captain, the airline transport-rated first officer, two flight attendants, and 71 passengers were not injured, and one flight attendant received a serious injury. The airplane was not damaged. The flight departed Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas, Texas, at 0637 central standard time. According to the Captain, while on initial approach into Orlando International Airport, descending out of 11,000 feet at 250 knots, the airplane encountered a moderate bump of turbulence, about one second in duration. The captain stated that the airplane was skimming a broken layer of clouds with about 2,000 feet of vertical buildup. He stated that the preparation for landing public address was given about six minutes before the airplane encountered the turbulence. According to the Captain, there was nothing on the radar or visual observation of the sky condition to suggest any more than light turbulence. The number one flight attendant stated that the Captain told the flight attendants that there might be turbulence ahead and for them to clean up and sit down. She stated that they were in the process of cleaning up "when it got really bad," and she had to hold onto the seatback. She stated that she saw the number two flight attendant's legs extending into the aisle. The number one flight attendant stated that the number two flight attendant had fallen onto her ankle and she helped her into her seat. The number one flight attendant stated that the ankle swelled up "huge." She stated that she notified the Captain and got an ice pack for her. Upon arriving at the passenger terminal gate, emergency medical personnel put a splint on the injured flight attendant's ankle and transported her to the hospital, where it was later discovered that her ankle was broken. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N479AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N479AA-2017-12-26), registration cancelled 2017-12-26, S/N 49654, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas MD-82 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82) (registry code 3022082) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 49654 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney JT8D series 20000 lbs thrust turbo jet; Pratt & Whitney JT8D series 20000 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: American Airlines, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: DFW, Dallas, TX - Destination: MCO, Orlando, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MCO, Orlando International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16,504 total, 6,240 in this make and model, 8,290 as pilot in command, 165 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 6,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: LEE, 8 nm away ## 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 20021106036249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021106036249A), Nov 6, 2002: Doug DC982, Orlando, FL. (-23) Aircraft encountered moderate turbulence approximately 30 miles northwest of Orlando int'l airport while descending from 11,000' to 7,000'. Flight… 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.