# NTSB DCA09CA069: Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N8543F, Louisville, KY, August 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2009, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.175834, -85.736946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1758&lon=-85.7369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-change of cruise level: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 25 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 23, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 74453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA09CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74453/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74453 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA09CA069 ## Probable cause an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-change of cruise level: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On August 4, 2009, at about 1715 CDT, Pinnacle Airlines flight 2871, a Bombardier CL 600-2B19, N8543F, from McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Detroit, Michigan, encounter severe turbulence during cruise at FL300. Of the 50 passengers and 3 crew members onboard, one flight attendant (FA) received serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries. According to the flight crew, the flight was going in and out of clouds and was using the weather radar and visual observations to detect cloud formations and precipitation. The turbulence lasted about 10 seconds after entering a cloud formation. There was no radar indications of thunderstorms or precipitation when the turbulence was encountered. No PIREPS had been reported for the area. The FA was unable to continue her duties and directed a passenger on how to use the intercom to communicate with the flight crew. The captain declared a medical emergency and the flight diverted into Louisville International Airport (SDF), Louisville, Kentucky. Emergency services personnel met the airplane at the gate and the passenger and flight attendant were transported to a local hospital. The passenger was released with minor injuries but the flight attendant was diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 2009, at about 1715 CDT, Pinnacle Airlines flight 2871, a Bombardier CL 600-2B19, N8543F, from McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Detroit, Michigan, encounter severe turbulence during cruise at FL300. Of the 50 passengers and 3 crew members onboard, one flight attendant (FA) received serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries. According to the flight crew, the flight was going in and out of clouds and was using the weather radar and visual observations to detect cloud formations and precipitation. The turbulence lasted about 10 seconds after entering a cloud formation. There was no radar indications of thunderstorms or precipitation when the turbulence was encountered. No PIREPS had been reported for the area. The FA was unable to continue her duties and directed a passenger on how to use the intercom to communicate with the flight crew. The captain declared a medical emergency and the flight diverted into Louisville International Airport (SDF), Louisville, Kentucky. Emergency services personnel met the airplane at the gate and the passenger and flight attendant were transported to a local hospital. The passenger was released with minor injuries but the flight attendant was diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8543F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8543F-2023-04-03), registration cancelled 2023-04-03, S/N 7543, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2B19 - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b19) (registry code 1390008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7543 - Airframe hours: 18567 - Engines: general electric (GE) CF34-3B1 9220 lbs thrust turbo fan; general electric (GE) CF34-3B1 9220 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Pinnacle Airlines Inc, doing business as Delta Connection - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 16, 2009 - Departed: TYS, knoxville, TN - Destination: DTW, Detroit, MI - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 5,582 total, 3,476 in this make and model, 3,847 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 1,250 total, 1,012 in this make and model, 183 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 22 knots, gusting 29 - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KBWG ## 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 20090804053959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090804053959A), Aug 4, 2009: Bombardier CL-600-2B19, Louisville, KY, Minor damage. On August 4, 2009 pinnacle airlines flight 2871 operated as northwest airlink while enroute from knoxville, TN to detroit, mi encountered severe turbulence… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74453. 263 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449539&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.