# NTSB DCA15CA152: Airbus Industrie A320 212, N335NW, Boston, MA, June 29, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 28, 2015, 23:20 local (Jun 29, 2015, 03:20 UTC)
- Place: Boston, MA
- Coordinates: 42.36063, -71.060516 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3606&lon=-71.0605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 155 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 8, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91577
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA15CA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91577/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91577
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA15CA152

## Probable cause

an inadvertent fall by the passenger while exiting the lavatory when the seat belt light was illuminated.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus Industrie A320-212, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md?model=3930322), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md)
- [Equipment/furnishings: passenger compartment equip](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022520): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Airbus Industrie A320-212, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022520/cases.md?model=3930322), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022520/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info; cases with it: [Airbus Industrie A320-212, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=3930322), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-descent: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus Industrie A320-212, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=3930322), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On June 28, 2015, at 2320 eastern daylight time, a passenger fell when exiting the aft lavatory on Delta Airlines flight 2219, an Airbus A320, N335NW, while the airplane was in descent to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts. According to flight crew statements, the seatbelt sign was illuminated and a public address announcement had been made to remain seated prior beginning the initial descent. About 5 minutes into the descent, the autopilot was disconnected to manage the descent profile, which resulted in a "bump" in the flight path. According to flight attendant statements, about this time, a passenger fell while exiting the rear lavatory injuring her ankle. Doctors onboard assisted in applying ice and providing pain medication and the flight crew declared an emergency with air traffic control. Emergency medical personnel met the airplane at the gate and transported the passenger to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured right ankle and lower right leg. Subsequent communication from the passenger to Delta stated that she had slipped on an area of water on the floor near the lavatory door. The aircraft was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a scheduled flight from Orlando International Airport, Florida.

## Factual narrative

On June 28, 2015, at 2320 eastern daylight time, a passenger fell when exiting the aft lavatory on Delta Airlines flight 2219, an Airbus A320, N335NW, while the airplane was in descent to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts. According to flight crew statements, the seatbelt sign was illuminated and a public address announcement had been made to remain seated prior beginning the initial descent. About 5 minutes into the descent, the autopilot was disconnected to manage the descent profile, which resulted in a "bump" in the flight path. According to flight attendant statements, about this time, a passenger fell while exiting the rear lavatory injuring her ankle. Doctors onboard assisted in applying ice and providing pain medication and the flight crew declared an emergency with air traffic control. Emergency medical personnel met the airplane at the gate and transported the passenger to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured right ankle and lower right leg. Subsequent communication from the passenger to Delta stated that she had slipped on an area of water on the floor near the lavatory door. The aircraft was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a scheduled flight from Orlando International Airport, Florida.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N335NW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N335NW), registered now, S/N 340, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320 212 (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: 340
- Year built: 1992
- Airframe hours: 66298
- Engines: CFM INTL. CFM56 SERIES turbo fan; CFM 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
- Last inspection: May 16, 2015
- Departed: KMCO, Orlando, FL
- Destination: KBOS, Boston, MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BOS, Boston
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review November 19, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 9,611 total, 290 in this make and model, 113 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review April 14, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 488 total, 488 in this make and model, 159 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observed at: KBOS

## Other investigations on N335NW (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 ENG19WA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG19WA032), Aug 17, 2019: Airbus A320 (N335NW), Nassau, Bahamas, incident, no damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91577. 591 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 591 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438703&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.

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