# NTSB DCA16CA030: Airbus A319 115, N3014R, Great Falls, MT, December 10, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 10, 2015, 13:53 local (19:53 UTC) - Place: Great Falls, MT - Coordinates: 47.49361, -111.281387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4936&lon=-111.2814&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 92433 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA16CA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92433/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92433 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA030 ## Probable cause an encounter with turbulence during initial descent. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus A319-115, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3940034), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: 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 December 10, 2015 at 1353 mountain standard time, American Airlines flight 1428, an Airbus 319, N3014R, encountered turbulence while enroute from the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada airport (YEG). The flight was planned for flight level (FL) 320. The crew stated that there was light chop for most of the flight and the seat belt sign was on the entire flight. ATC advised the flight crew that the ride above FL350 was better. The flight crew requested FL360. Initially the flight was smoother but then they encountered light chop again and requested to return to FL320. The captain instructed the flight attendants (FA) to secure the galleys due to expected turbulence on descent into YEG. During this time, the flight encounter light chop turbulence and FA #2 fell when attempting to return to her jumpseat, resulting in a broken tibia. Emergency medical trained passengers assisted with splinting the FA's leg and she was assisted into the last row of seats. The captain decided to continue to YEG after consulting with Americans on call physician. There were no other injuries and no damage to the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3014R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3014R), registered now, S/N 5842, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A319 115 (115) - Registry model: [Airbus A319-115](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a319-115) (registry code 3940034) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-5B6 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-5b6-series) (registry code 13017, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5842 - Year built: 2013 - Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-5B6; CFM INTL CFM56-5B6 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: American Airlines Inc - Registered owner: American Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: DFW, DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX - Destination: CYEG, Edmonton - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14,295 total, 346 in this make and model, 9,279 as pilot in command - Co-pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,709 total, 1,219 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Turbulence: Light ## Other investigations on N3014R (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 DCA23WA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23WA087), Dec 2, 2022: Airbus A319-115 (N3014R), Barranquilla, Colombia, incident, no damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92433. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448069&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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.