# NTSB DCA14CA036: Boeing 757 232, N687DL, Atlanta, GA, January 10, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 10, 2014, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.216945, -83.807777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2169&lon=-83.8078&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, 140 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 88664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA14CA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88664/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88664 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA14CA036 ## Probable cause unexpected encounter with convective turbulence while the flight attendants were preparing for arrival. ## 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: [Boeing 757-232, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1384965), [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-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 757-232, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1384965), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight crew was anticipating light turbulence during the descent and notified the cabin and selected the fasten seatbelt sign on prior to descending from 28,000 feet. During the descent, as the flight attendants (FA) were still preparing the cabin for arrival, the turbulence increased to a level the crew categorized as moderate. During this time, while trying to get to her seat, a FA was thrown against the 3L door and fell to the floor injuring her right ankle. The FA could not complete her duties and was assisted into the last row of seats. Another FA informed the flight crew who arranged for paramedics to meet the airplane. The FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken right tibia in two places. ## Factual narrative The flight crew was anticipating light turbulence during the descent and notified the cabin and selected the fasten seatbelt sign on prior to descending from 28,000 feet. During the descent, as the flight attendants (FA) were still preparing the cabin for arrival, the turbulence increased to a level the crew categorized as moderate. During this time, while trying to get to her seat, a FA was thrown against the 3L door and fell to the floor injuring her right ankle. The FA could not complete her duties and was assisted into the last row of seats. Another FA informed the flight crew who arranged for paramedics to meet the airplane. The FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken right tibia in two places. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N687DL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N687DL), registered now, S/N 27586, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 757 232 (232) - Registry model: [Boeing 757-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-232) (registry code 1384965) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27586 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: unknown; unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Air Lines Inc - Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: KJAX, Jacksonville, FL - Destination: KATL, Atlanta, GA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review December 11, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,296 total, 4,712 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review August 22, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,081 total, 3,051 in this make and model, 123 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Not reported - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KATL, 40 nm away ## Other investigations on N687DL (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA20WA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20WA084), Jan 1, 2020: Boeing 757 (N687DL), Mexico City, Mexico, incident, no damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88664. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 954 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Flight Papers (item 3, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431310&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Papers-Master.PDF - Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report (item 4, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Data%20Recorder%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Flight Data Recorder - Attachment 1 Tabular Data (item 5, .CSV, 641 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431312&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Flight%20Data%20Recorder%20-%20Attachment%201%20Tabular%20Data-Master.csv - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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.