# NTSB ATL97LA055: Dassault Falcon 900B, N332MC, Chamblee, GA, March 26, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1997, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Chamblee, GA
- Coordinates: 33.900444, -84.299194 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9004&lon=-84.2992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3835
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3835/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA055

## Probable cause

an encounter with clear air turbulence, which led to injury of the flight attendant.  A factor associated with the accident was: that the flight attendant was not being restrained by a seat belt.

## 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,clear air (cause)
  - seat belt - not used, flight attendant (contributing factor)

## Analysis

As the airplane was cruising at 31,000 feet, light turbulence was encountered. The flight was cleared to descend in preparation for landing at the destination airport. Passing through 30,000 feet, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence. As the airplane descended through 27,000 feet, there was a sudden drop of about 10 to 15 feet, which resulted in the flight attendant falling to the floor in the aft lavatory. Her fall resulted in a broken ankle.

## Factual narrative

On March 26, 1997, about 1345 eastern standard time, a Dassault Falcon 900B, N332MC, encountered clear air turbulence, during descent, about 150 nautical miles north of Atlanta, Georgia. The airplane was operated by MCI Systemhouse Corporation under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and instrument flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight plan was filed for the positioning flight. There were no injuries to the two airline transport pilots, while the flight attendant was seriously injured. The airplane was not damaged. Origination of the flight, which was destined for Chamblee, Georgia, was Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC, about one hour prior to the accident.

According to the Captain, there was light turbulence at the cruise altitude of 31,000 feet. Once a descent was initiated, moderate turbulence was encountered at 30,000 feet. As the airplane descended through 27,000 feet, there was a sudden drop of about 10 to 15 feet which resulted in the flight attendant falling to the floor in the aft lavatory. Her fall resulted in a broken ankle.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N332MC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Dassault FALCON 900B (FALCON 900)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 078
- Airframe hours: 6390
- Engines: Garrett TFE-731-5BR-1 4750 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Mci Systemhouse Corp.
- Registered owner: Mci Transcon
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 1, 1997, 103 hours before
- Departed: IAD, WASHINGTON, DC
- Destination: PDK
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,494 total, 4,240 in this make and model, 9,141 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19970326039799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970326039799A), Mar 26, 1997: Atlanta, GA. Clear air turbulence descending thru FL30. Attendant injured. (-23) this turbulence encounter (with an injury) was not reported to the FAA regional comm center…

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.

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