- Date
- May 23, 2015, 16:41 local (20:41 UTC)
- Place
- Atlanta, GA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 146 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N334NWAirbus Industrie A320 212
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Cabin safety event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 1, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Case key
- 91225
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the flight attendant's failure to secure her lap belt and shoulder harness prior to the takeoff that resulted in her being thrown from her jumpseat shortly after takeoff.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
After completing her pre-takeoff safety check of the cabin, the flight attendant (FA) sat down in the jumpseat but reported that her lap buckle was stuck under the seat bottom and so was unable to secure her harness during the takeoff roll. After takeoff and in the initial climb, the FA stood up to release the buckle from the seat bottom and then before she was able to buckle her seatbelt, was thrown from her seat onto the galley floor injuring her side. The FA was assisted back to her seat and was unable to complete her duties. The flight returned to the departure airport where emergency medical technicians met the plane. The injured FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with two fractured ribs.
Factual narrative
After completing her pre-takeoff safety check of the cabin, the flight attendant (FA) sat down in the jumpseat but reported that her lap buckle was stuck under the seat bottom and so was unable to secure her harness during the takeoff roll. After takeoff and in the initial climb, the FA stood up to release the buckle from the seat bottom and then before she was able to buckle her seatbelt, was thrown from her seat onto the galley floor injuring her side. The FA was assisted back to her seat and was unable to complete her duties. The flight returned to the departure airport where emergency medical technicians met the plane. The injured FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with two fractured ribs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N334NW
- Reported as
- Airbus Industrie A320 212 (212)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 339
- Built
- 1992
- Engines
- CFM Intl. CFM56 SERIES, turbo fanCFM Intl. CFM56 SERIES, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Delta Air Lines Inc
- Registered owner
- Delta Air Lines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- Atlanta, GA
- Destination
- Vancouver
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Last flight review
- April 29, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 16,749 total · 5,951 in this make and model
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1
- Last flight review
- February 24, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 11,592 total · 9,079 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.30 inHg
- Observed at
- KATL
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.