- Date
- June 12, 2016, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Jamaica, NY
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 109 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N104NNAirbus A321 231
- Defining event
- Enroute-climb to cruise: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Case key
- 93662
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 convective turbulence that resulted in a flight attendant injury.
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 June 12, 2016, about 1645 eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 117, an Airbus A321, N104NN, encountered turbulence in cruise flight at FL170 that resulted in one flight attendant receiving a serious injury. The other 109 passengers and crew members onboard were not injured. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, New York, to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. The captain stated that after takeoff the he advised the cabin crew to remain in their jumpseats due to possible turbulence. A few minutes later, he announced it was safe to move about the cabin. The captain further stated that seat belt sign was still illuminated at the time of the event, and there were no visible indications of any convective activity in the area. The Captain said that he did not think of this event further, until he was later contacted by a flight attendant who stated that she had been thrown sideways during the turbulence event, and had been injured as a result. The Flight Attendant stated that she did not think much of the incident or injury and she flew for another four days. She then went to her doctor since her ankle was not getting any better and was diagnosed with a fractured foot.
Factual narrative
On June 12, 2016, about 1645 eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 117, an Airbus A321, N104NN, encountered turbulence in cruise flight at FL170 that resulted in one flight attendant receiving a serious injury. The other 109 passengers and crew members onboard were not injured. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, New York, to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. The captain stated that after takeoff the he advised the cabin crew to remain in their jumpseats due to possible turbulence. A few minutes later, he announced it was safe to move about the cabin. The captain further stated that seat belt sign was still illuminated at the time of the event, and there were no visible indications of any convective activity in the area. The Captain said that he did not think of this event further, until he was later contacted by a flight attendant who stated that she had been thrown sideways during the turbulence event, and had been injured as a result. The Flight Attendant stated that she did not think much of the incident or injury and she flew for another four days. She then went to her doctor since her ankle was not getting any better and was diagnosed with a fractured foot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N104NN
- Reported as
- Airbus A321 231 (231)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5895
- Built
- 2013
- Engines
- IAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fanIAE V2533-A5, 11,990 horsepower, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- American Airlines
- Registered owner
- Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- JFK · New York, NY
- Destination
- LAX · Los Angeles, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 4, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 8,247 total · 1,988 in this make and model · 1,963 as pilot in command
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 6,181 total · 578 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 22 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Turbulence
- Moderate
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 695 KB in all.