# NTSB DCA16CA050: Boeing 777 223, N784AN, Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 12, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 12, 2015, 11:26 local (14:26 UTC) - Place: Buenos Aires, Argentina - Coordinates: -33, -63 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-33.0000&lon=-63.0000&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: 1 serious, 12 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 92563 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA16CA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92563/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92563 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA050 ## Probable cause an inadvertant 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: [Boeing 777-223, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1385213), [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: [Boeing 777-223, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1385213), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On December 12, 2015, American Airlines flight 997, a Boeing 777, N784AN, encountered turbulence enroute to Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) during a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas, Texas. The aircraft was approximately 250 NM from EZE and deviating north of the filed routing to avoid a strong convective area near thunderstorms. The flight crew had advised the flight attendants (FA) that the flight could encounter turbulence in approximately 15 minutes and they should be seated. The fasten seatbelt sign was on. While two FA's were securing the galley, the flight encountered the region of strong/severe turbulence earlier than expected. One FA was thrown to the floor and fell resulting in a broken arm. There were no passenger injuries and no damage to the airplane. The JIAIAC of Argentina delegated the investigation to the NTSB, who accepted the delegation. ## Factual narrative On December 12, 2015, American Airlines flight 997, a Boeing 777, N784AN, encountered turbulence enroute to Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) during a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas, Texas. The aircraft was approximately 250 NM from EZE and deviating north of the filed routing to avoid a strong convective area near thunderstorms. The flight crew had advised the flight attendants (FA) that the flight could encounter turbulence in approximately 15 minutes and they should be seated. The fasten seatbelt sign was on. While two FA's were securing the galley, the flight encountered the region of strong/severe turbulence earlier than expected. One FA was thrown to the floor and fell resulting in a broken arm. There were no passenger injuries and no damage to the airplane. The JIAIAC of Argentina delegated the investigation to the NTSB, who accepted the delegation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N784AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N784AN), registered now, S/N 29588, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 777 223 (223) - Registry model: [Boeing 777-223](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-777-223) (registry code 1385213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce RB-211 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-rb-211-series) (registry code 54555, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29588 - Year built: 2000 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC RB.211 SERIES; ROLLS-ROYC RB.211 SERIES - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: American Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: DFW, DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX - Destination: SAEZ, Buenos Aires - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 18,876 total, 2,912 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,484 total, 380 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Day ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92563. 1.5 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=40441528&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Argentina Letter of Delegation (item 2, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441529&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Argentina%20Letter%20of%20Delegation-Master.PDF - ICAO Notification (item 3, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441530&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ICAO%20Notification-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.