# NTSB DCA12CA088: Airbus Industrie A320-212, N352NW, Minneapolis, MN, June 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2012, 23:20 local (Jun 11, 2012, 04:20 UTC) - Place: Minneapolis, MN - Coordinates: 44.875831, -93.219718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8758&lon=-93.2197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 149 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83927 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA12CA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83927/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83927 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA12CA088 ## Probable cause Inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence while in descent. ## 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: [Airbus Industrie A320-212, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3930322), [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. - [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus Industrie A320-212, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3930322), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis After receiving a forecast of turbulence from air traffic control (ATC), the flight crew briefed the flight attendants, informed the passengers via the public address system, and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. During descent for landing, the airplane encountered turbulence as the flight crew was maneuvering to avoid weather and radar returns. During the event, a flight attendant standing in the aft galley sustained a serious injury to his right ankle when he was lifted and dropped back to the floor. The remaining 149 passengers and crewmembers onboard were not injured. The flight crew declared an emergency and the airplane landed without further incident. ## Factual narrative After receiving a forecast of turbulence from air traffic control (ATC), the flight crew briefed the flight attendants, informed the passengers via the public address system, and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. During descent for landing, the airplane encountered turbulence as the flight crew was maneuvering to avoid weather and radar returns. During the event, a flight attendant standing in the aft galley sustained a serious injury to his right ankle when he was lifted and dropped back to the floor. The remaining 149 passengers and crewmembers onboard were not injured. The flight crew declared an emergency and the airplane landed without further incident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N352NW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N352NW), registered now, S/N 778, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-212 - Registry model: [Airbus Industrie A320-212](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a320-212) (registry code 3930322) (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: 778 - Engines: CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES 2200 horsepower turbo fan; CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES 2200 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Air Lines Inc - Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: MSN, Madison, WI - Destination: MSP, Minneapolis, MN - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review April 12, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 12,406 total, 3,321 in this make and model, 52 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review January 22, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 2,972 total, 701 in this make and model, 179 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 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 20120610012989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120610012989A), Jun 10, 2012: Airbus Industrie A320-212, Minneapolis, MN, No damage. Delta air lines flight 888 experienced clear air turbulence on approach into msp. Flight attendant was in the aft galley when the turbulence struck. He stated… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83927. 161 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.