# NTSB ATL93LA159: Boeing 757-232, N627DL, Atlanta, GA, September 16, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1993, 21:45 local (Sep 16, 1993, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Location: 33.7490° N, 84.3880° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Atlanta, GA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7490&lon=-84.3880&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 187 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3264
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3264/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA159

## Probable cause

WAS THE PILOT'S INACCURATE EVALUATION OF WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE FLIGHT ENTERING AN AREA OF TURBULENCE.

## 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
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AS THE FLIGHT CLIMBED THROUGH 10,000 FEET, THE FLIGHT CREW TURNED THE SEAT BELT SIGN OFF. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 13,500 FEET, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURBULENCE WHICH RESULTED IN A SERIOUS INJURY TO A FLIGHT ATTENDANT. BEFORE ENTERING THE TURBULENT CONDITION, THE FLIGHT CREW OBSERVED CONVECTIVE BUILDUPS ON RADAR FIVE MILES NORTHEAST OF THEIR POSITION. NO AVOIDANCE ACTION WAS TAKEN UNTIL AFTER THE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED.

## Factual narrative

On September 15, 1993, at 2145 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 757-232, N627DL, operating as Delta Flight 250, encountered moderate turbulence climbing through 14,000 feet, approximately ten miles east of Atlanta, Georgia. A flight attendant stationed in the rear of the airplane was injured. The scheduled, domestic, passenger flight operated under 14 CFR Part 121 with a valid instrument clearance. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was not damaged and one of the 188 persons on board the airplane was injured. The flight departed Atlanta at 2140 hours.

According to the captain, air traffic control cleared the flight to 14,000 feet, and the seat belt sign was turned off as the airplane climbed through 10,000 feet. The flight attendants reported that the flight was normal as they started their normal inflight passenger service. As the flight climbed, the pilots observed a thin layer of clouds along their route of flight.  They continued the climb through the layer of clouds; they also observed, on the airborne weather radar system, isolated cumulonimbus (CBs) type clouds about 5 miles northeast of the flight path. At 13,000 feet, the flight encountered what the captain described as moderate turbulence; the seat belt sign was immediately turned on (see attached flight attendant statements with NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The flight broke out of the cloud layer at 14,500 feet; the pilot deviated south of the CBs and continued the flight into Columbia, South Carolina.

After the encounter with turbulence, the captain was informed of the injury sustained by the flight attendant. The flight landed without further incident. Additionally, the flight crew reported that turbulent conditions were encountered during their previous flight, into Atlanta, about two hours before Flight 240's departure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N627DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N627DL-2019-01-14), registration cancelled 2019-01-14, S/N 22917, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 757-232
- 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: 22917
- Engines: P&W 2037 39073 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Delta Air Lines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 14, 1993
- Departed: ATL
- Destination: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 17,000 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL, 10 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 19930915042389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930915042389A), Sep 15, 1993: Boeing 757232, Atlanta, GA. Turned off seatbelt sign climbing thru FL130. Hit turbulence injuring flight attendant. Build ups in area.

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.