# NTSB DCA16CA001: Airbus A319, N9026C, Nassau, Bahamas, October 1, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 1, 2015, 11:18 local (15:18 UTC)
- Place: Nassau, Bahamas
- Coordinates: 25.760278, -76.157218 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7603&lon=-76.1572&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 4 minor, 73 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92107
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA16CA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92107/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92107
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA001

## Probable cause

an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence.

## 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 A319-115, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3940034), [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-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A319-115, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3940034), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9026C), registered now, S/N 6429, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A319 (100)
- Registry model: [Airbus A319-115](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a319-115) (registry code 3940034) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-5B7 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-5b7-series) (registry code 13020, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6429
- Year built: 2015
- Airframe hours: 1858
- Engines: SNECAMA/GE CFM56-5B7 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan; SNECAMA/GE CFM56-5B7 27000 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; 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
- Co-pilot; age 43; injuries: none; 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
- Cabin crew; injuries: none
- Cabin crew; injuries: minor
- Cabin crew; injuries: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Turbulence: Severe

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92107. 7.4 MB in all.

- Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report (item 1, .PDF, 769 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465840&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Data%20Recorder%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF
- Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 - Tabular Data (Compressed CSV File) (item 2, ZIP, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465841&FileExtension=zip&FileName=Flight%20Data%20Recorder%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20-%20Attachment%201%20-%20Tabular%20Data%20(Compressed%20CSV%20File)-Master
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465842&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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