DCA16CA001

NTSB accident investigation · Airbus A319 · Nassau, Bahamas · October 1, 2015

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 1, 2015, 11:18 local (15:18 UTC)
Place
Nassau, Bahamas
Injuries
2 serious, 4 minor, 73 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N9026CAirbus A319
Defining event
Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 5, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Case key
92107

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

an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence.

Findings · 1

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.

Turbulence: convective turbulenceEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnelAirbus A319-115: 1 caseAll aircraft: 145 casesProbable cause

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

On October 1, 2015, at about 1118 eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 982, an Airbus 319-100, N9026C, encountered turbulence for about 15 seconds during cruise while enroute from Maurice Bishop International Airport (TGPY), St. George's, Grenada, to Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida. Two passengers were seriously injured, three passengers and one flight attendant received minor injuries, and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled international passenger flight from TGPY to KMIA. According to the operator, the seat belt sign was on and onboard radar was being utilized by the flight crew when the turbulence was encountered during cruise at Flight Level 360 in instrument meteorological conditions. After being informed of the possible injuries to the passengers and crew, the flight crew declared an emergency and subsequently landed at KMIA without further incident. Paramedics met the flight upon arrival at the gate and transported two passengers and one flight attendant to the hospital. The flight attendant was diagnosed with a minor injury and released. One passenger was diagnosed with a cervical spine fracture and the other passenger was diagnosed with a cracked rib and possible cracked vertebra.

Factual narrative

On October 1, 2015, at about 1118 eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 982, an Airbus 319-100, N9026C, encountered turbulence for about 15 seconds during cruise while enroute from Maurice Bishop International Airport (TGPY), St. George's, Grenada, to Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida. Two passengers were seriously injured, three passengers and one flight attendant received minor injuries, and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled international passenger flight from TGPY to KMIA. According to the operator, the seat belt sign was on and onboard radar was being utilized by the flight crew when the turbulence was encountered during cruise at Flight Level 360 in instrument meteorological conditions. After being informed of the possible injuries to the passengers and crew, the flight crew declared an emergency and subsequently landed at KMIA without further incident. Paramedics met the flight upon arrival at the gate and transported two passengers and one flight attendant to the hospital. The flight attendant was diagnosed with a minor injury and released. One passenger was diagnosed with a cervical spine fracture and the other passenger was diagnosed with a cracked rib and possible cracked vertebra.

Aircraft

Registration
N9026C
Reported as
Airbus A319 (100)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
6429
Built
2015
Airframe hours
1,858
Engines
Snecama/Ge CFM56-5B7, 27,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanSnecama/Ge CFM56-5B7, 27,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
American Airlines Inc
Registered owner
American Airlines Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · September 29, 2015
Departed
GND · St. Georges, AO
Destination
MIA · Miami, FL
Flight plan
IFR
Equipment
Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

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 · 5

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
54
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 1, 2015
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
11,473 total · 1,518 in this make and model · 2,270 as pilot in command · 208 in the last 90 days · 83 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Age
43
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 25, 2015
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
9,224 total · 912 in this make and model · 94 in the last 90 days · 58 in the last 30 days
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
None
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Minor
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
None

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Turbulence
Severe

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 7.4 MB in all.