- Date
- November 23, 2015, 15:44 local (20:44 UTC)
- Place
- Philadelphia, PA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N725UWAirbus Industrie A319 112
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 20, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Case key
- 92360
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 clear air 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.
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 November 23, 2015, at 1500 atlantic standard time, American Airlines flight 825, an Airbus A319, N725UW, encountered turbulence while in cruise from LF Wade International Airport (BDA), Hamilton, Bermuda, to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the operator, the flight crew had flown the previous outbound flight from PHL to BDL at FL390, during which they experienced continuous light to very occasional moderate turbulence. The captain conferred with the dispatcher before departure to PHL on the return flight and the dispatcher suggested FL280 for a smoother ride. The flight departed BDA and climbed uneventfully to FL280. During cruise, the flight crew requested and received approval for a slight course deviation for some showers and then turned back on course and was clear of all convective activity and experiencing a smooth ride. The flight then encountered what the crew described as "severe" turbulence that lasted 5-10 seconds. At the time of the event, the airplane was on autopilot and the seatbelt sign was not illuminated. When the turbulence was encountered, the flight attendants were thrown to the floor resulting in one receiving a broken ankle. One passenger also experienced a minor injury. There was no damage to the airplane.
Factual narrative
On November 23, 2015, at 1500 atlantic standard time, American Airlines flight 825, an Airbus A319, N725UW, encountered turbulence while in cruise from LF Wade International Airport (BDA), Hamilton, Bermuda, to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the operator, the flight crew had flown the previous outbound flight from PHL to BDL at FL390, during which they experienced continuous light to very occasional moderate turbulence. The captain conferred with the dispatcher before departure to PHL on the return flight and the dispatcher suggested FL280 for a smoother ride. The flight departed BDA and climbed uneventfully to FL280. During cruise, the flight crew requested and received approval for a slight course deviation for some showers and then turned back on course and was clear of all convective activity and experiencing a smooth ride. The flight then encountered what the crew described as "severe" turbulence that lasted 5-10 seconds. At the time of the event, the airplane was on autopilot and the seatbelt sign was not illuminated. When the turbulence was encountered, the flight attendants were thrown to the floor resulting in one receiving a broken ankle. One passenger also experienced a minor injury. There was no damage to the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N725UW
- Reported as
- Airbus Industrie A319 112 (112)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1135
- Built
- 1999
- Engines
- CFM Intl. CFM56 SERIES, turbo fanCFM Intl. CFM56 SERIES, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- American Airlines Inc
- Registered owner
- Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- BDA · St. George GE CX
- Destination
- PHL · Philadelphia, PA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display
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
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 27, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 4,873 total · 4,873 in this make and model
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 9, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 3,412 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 75 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 21, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 634 KB in all.