# NTSB CHI03LA031: Airbus Industrie A320-211, N324US, Minneapolis, MN, November 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 28, 2002, 21:25 local (Nov 29, 2002, 03:25 UTC) - Place: Minneapolis, MN - Coordinates: 44.880001, -93.216667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8800&lon=-93.2167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 42 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Minneapolis CMO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56165 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56165/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA031 ## Probable cause The cabin flight crew not verifying the galley service cart had been properly stowed prior to departure, which resulted in the inadvertent deployment of the galley service cart during initial climb after takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, flight attendant (cause) - misc eqpt/furnishings,galley - not secured (cause) - misc eqpt/furnishings,galley - deployed inadvertently (cause) ## Analysis A flight attendant was seriously injured when struck by a galley service cart during initial climb after takeoff. According to company personnel, the galley service cart was not secured properly prior to departure and became detached from the forward galley during climb out. The galley service cart traveled down the center aisle and struck a flight attendant in the aft galley, fracturing his ankle. No anomalies were found with the galley service cart or the galley in which it was stationed prior to takeoff. All restraint levers were intact and functioned as designed. ## Factual narrative On November 28, 2002, at 2125 central standard time, a flight attendant was seriously injured when struck by a galley service cart during initial climb from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP), Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Airbus Industrie A320-211, N324US, was operated by Northwest Airlines as flight 575 under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121. The remaining flight crew and 38 passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed MSP at 2106 and was en route to Sacramento, California, at the time of the accident. The flight returned to MSP and landed without further incident. According to company personnel, the galley service cart was not secured properly prior to departure and became detached from the forward galley during climb out. The galley service cart traveled down the center aisle and struck a flight attendant in the aft galley, fracturing his ankle. No anomalies were found with the galley service cart or the galley in which it was stationed prior to takeoff. All restraint levers were intact and functioned as designed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N324US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N324US-2026-01-14), registration cancelled 2026-01-14, S/N 273, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A320-211 - Registry model: [Airbus Industrie A320-211](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a320-211) (registry code 3930320) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 273 - Airframe hours: 35133 - Engines: CFM International CFM56-5-A1 25000 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM International CFM56-5-A1 25000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Northwest Airlines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 13, 2002, 2,499 hours before - Departed: MSP, Minneapolis, MN - Destination: SMF, Sacramento, CA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 16, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 10,257 total, 1,942 in this make and model, 6,472 as pilot in command, 178 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 40; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 21, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,617 total, 127 in this make and model, 104 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 240° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg - Observed at: MSP ## 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 20021128035329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021128035329A), Nov 28, 2002: Airbus A320211, Minneapolis, MN, Minor damage. (-23) A galley cart broke loose from the forward galley on takeoff. The cart went down the aisle struck a lavatory, the aft f/a swivel jumpseat and then broke… 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.