# NTSB CEN09IA606: Saab 340B, N452XJ, Traverse City, MI, July 31, 2009

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 30, 2009, 21:02 local (Jul 31, 2009, 01:02 UTC)
- Place: Traverse City, MI
- Coordinates: 44.741664, -85.582496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7417&lon=-85.5825&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 33 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Mesaba Airlines, Inc.
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74805
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09IA606
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74805/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74805
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09IA606

## Probable cause

The flight attendant's incapacitation due to an anxiety attack.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Impairment/incapacitation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012000): Personnel issues › Physical · Cabin crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Saab-Scania SAAB 340B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012000/cases.md?model=7860101), [All aircraft, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Saab-Scania SAAB 340B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=7860101), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While in cruise flight, the cockpit crew was alerted by a passenger that the single flight attendant had become "no longer coherent" and was performing "numerous unusual activities." The captain instructed the passenger to get the flight attendant seated and the beverage cart stowed, and then diverted to a nearby airport. The flight attendant was transported to a local emergency room and diagnosed with "acute anxiety." There were no indications that the flight attendant had any pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions. According to 14 Code of Federal Regulations 121.391, a single flight attendant was required for the incident flight. In addition, there are no medical standards for flight attendants currently stipulated by federal regulations.

## Factual narrative

On July 30, 2009, about 2102 eastern daylight time, a Saab 340B, N452XJ, operated by Mesaba Airlines as Flight 3194, diverted to Cherry Capital Airport (KTVC), Traverse City, Michigan, because of a medical emergency involving the sole flight attendant aboard the flight. The 2 pilots, 1 cabin flight attendant, and 30 passengers were uninjured. The scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 while on an instrument flight plan. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The flight departed Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (KDTW), near Detroit, Michigan, at 2018 and had the intended destination of Sawyer International Airport (KSAW), near Marquette, Michigan. According to the captain, while enroute at 20,000 feet mean sea level there were several knocks on the flight-deck door. As a security precaution, he used the public-address (PA) phone to establish contact with the cabin flight attendant. One of the passengers answered the cabin PA phone and reported that the flight attendant was "no longer coherent" and was performing "numerous unusual activities." The captain advised the passenger to assist the flight attendant to a seat and to stow the service-cart that was blocking the aisle. He then alerted air traffic control that they were diverting to KTVC due to a medical emergency. Prior to landing, the captain coordinated with a passenger to ensure that all passengers were seated and using their seatbelts. The flight made an uneventful landing and was met by paramedics and local law enforcement. The flight attendant was evaluated at a local emergency room (ER). Records from that treatment noted a diagnosis of "Acute anxiety/delirium of uncertain etiology, resolved while in ER." There was no indication in those records of any pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions. In addition, no pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions were noted on a September 10, 2008, "Post-job offer medical history questionnaire," required by the airline to be completed by the flight attendant prior to beginning duties. According to federal regulations, a single flight attendant was required for the incident flight. In addition, there are no medical standards for flight attendants currently stipulated by federal regulations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N452XJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N452XJ-2017-09-21), registration cancelled 2017-09-21, S/N 340B-452, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SAAB 340B
- Registry model: [Saab-Scania SAAB 340B](https://openairdocs.org/model/saab-scania-saab-340b) (registry code 7860101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CT7-SER series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-ct7-ser-series) (registry code 30031, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340B-452
- Engines: General Electric CT7-9B 1870 horsepower turbo prop; General Electric CT7-9B 1870 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Mesaba Aviation, Inc., doing business as Northwest Airlink
- Registered owner: Lambert Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 29, 2009
- Departed: KDTW, Detroit, MI
- Destination: KSAW, Marquette, MI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,670 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 498 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 23, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 991 total, 141 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: KTVC

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74805. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330085&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Medical Records Information (item 2, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Medical%20Records%20Information-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.

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