# NTSB DCA12CA059: Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N453AW, Harrisburg, PA, March 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 3, 2012, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Harrisburg, PA - Coordinates: 40.233333, -76.966667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2333&lon=-76.9667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 49 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 83351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA12CA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83351/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83351 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA12CA059 ## Probable cause an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence during descent. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: 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 March 3, 2012, about 1720 eastern standard time, Air Wisconsin 3733, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N453AW, experienced turbulence during descent into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 50 passengers and crew onboard the airplane, one flight attendant received serious injuries and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio to PHL. According to the flight crew, as the airplane was descending through about 17,000 feet, the flight initially experienced light turbulence so the flight crew turned on the seatbelt sign. Shortly after, the airplane experienced severe clear air turbulence that caused the airplane to drop at least 300 feet. At the time of the turbulence, the flight attendant (FA) was in the galley securing the beverage cart and was thrown to the ceiling and onto the floor injuring her back. The FA was assisted into her jumpseat by a passenger. The flight crew declared an emergency with ATC and requested emergency personnel meet the airplane at the gate. After landing, the FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a fracture of her L-1 vertebrae. ## Factual narrative On March 3, 2012, about 1720 eastern standard time, Air Wisconsin 3733, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N453AW, experienced turbulence during descent into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 50 passengers and crew onboard the airplane, one flight attendant received serious injuries and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio to PHL. According to the flight crew, as the airplane was descending through about 17,000 feet, the flight initially experienced light turbulence so the flight crew turned on the seatbelt sign. Shortly after, the airplane experienced severe clear air turbulence that caused the airplane to drop at least 300 feet. At the time of the turbulence, the flight attendant (FA) was in the galley securing the beverage cart and was thrown to the ceiling and onto the floor injuring her back. The FA was assisted into her jumpseat by a passenger. The flight crew declared an emergency with ATC and requested emergency personnel meet the airplane at the gate. After landing, the FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a fracture of her L-1 vertebrae. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N453AW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N453AW), registered now, S/N 7838, built 2003 (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: 7838 - Engines: GE CF34 SERIES 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34 SERIES 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp - Registered owner: Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CLE, Cleveland, OH - Destination: PHL, PHILADELPHIA, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PHL, Philadelphia Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,732 total, 2,751 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 33; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,225 total, 5,104 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft unknown - Altimeter: 29.60 inHg - Turbulence: Extreme ## 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 20120303006009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120303006009A), Mar 3, 2012: Bombardier Inc CL-600-2B19, Harrisburg, PA, No damage. On 03/03/2012, air Wisconsin flight #3733 from cleveland hopkins airport (kcle) was on descent on the bojid one arrival into philadelphia international airport… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83351. 254 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452884&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.