- Date
- January 3, 2016, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Raleigh, NC
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 71 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N643RWEmbraer ERJ 170 100 SE
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 24, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- FAA report
- 20160103000309A
- Case key
- 92535
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 encounter with turbulence resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
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
According to crew statements, the flight crew briefed the flight attendants (FA) that turbulence was forecast for the flight and that they would keep them updated throughout. During the first portion of the flight, the flight encountered light turbulence and occasional moderate turbulence several times and the flight crew made public address (PA) announcements each time. Later, the flight encountered unexpected turbulence and the flight crew immediately turned on the fasten seatbelt sign and made a PA announcement. During that time, a FA was stowing a beverage cart in the aft galley, and the turbulence caused the cart to bump the FAs hand. The FA continued to perform her duties and the flight landed uneventfully. The next day, the FAs hand was painful and swollen and she was diagnosed with a broken wrist.
Factual narrative
According to crew statements, the flight crew briefed the flight attendants (FA) that turbulence was forecast for the flight and that they would keep them updated throughout. During the first portion of the flight, the flight encountered light turbulence and occasional moderate turbulence several times and the flight crew made public address (PA) announcements each time. Later, the flight encountered unexpected turbulence and the flight crew immediately turned on the fasten seatbelt sign and made a PA announcement. During that time, a FA was stowing a beverage cart in the aft galley, and the turbulence caused the cart to bump the FAs hand. The FA continued to perform her duties and the flight landed uneventfully. The next day, the FAs hand was painful and swollen and she was diagnosed with a broken wrist.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N643RW
- Reported as
- Embraer ERJ 170 100 SE (100SE)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17000060
- Built
- 2005
- Engines
- GE CF34, turbo fanGE CF34, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Shuttle America Corp
- Registered owner
- Shuttle America Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- KPBI · Palm Beach, FL
- Destination
- KEWR · Newark, NJ
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 24, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,534 total · 6,239 in this make and model
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 15, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 8,300 total · 1,300 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Turbulence
- Moderate
- Observed at
- KRDU, 40 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 25, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.