# NTSB DCA17CA123: Airbus A319 132, N512NK, South Toledo Bend, TX, May 22, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 21, 2017, 19:30 local (May 22, 2017, 00:30 UTC) - Place: South Toledo Bend, TX - Coordinates: 30.990798, -93.660491 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9908&lon=-93.6605&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, 2 minor, 139 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 95218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA17CA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95218/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95218 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17CA123 ## Probable cause an 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: [Airbus A319-132, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3940015), [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: [Airbus A319-132, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3940015), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On May 20, 2017, about 1930 central daylight time, Spirit Airlines flight 330, an Airbus A319-132, N512NK, encountered turbulence while in cruise flight at flight level (FL) 360. Of the 146 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant received serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (KMSY), New Orleans, Louisiana, to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), Dallas, Texas. During cruise, as the flight was approaching a line of weather, the flight crew made a public address announcement for the passengers to be seated because they expected turbulence. In addition, the captain called the lead flight attendant (FA) and instructed that all the flight attendants be seated. The seatbelt sign was illuminated for the entire flight. About 10 minutes later, the flight penetrated a line of weather and the airplane had a short encounter with moderate turbulence. The autopilot did not disengage during the encounter. When the turbulence occurred, one of the FAs was seated in the aft galley without her seatbelt fastened and was thrown upwards, hitting her head on the ceiling before landing on the galley floor. She was assisted by medically qualified passengers and remained on the floor for the remainder of the flight due to numbness in her extremities. Emergency personnel met the airplane after landing and the injured FA was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with number 1 lumbar fracture. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N512NK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N512NK-2025-03-10), registration cancelled 2025-03-10, S/N 2673, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A319 132 (132) - Registry model: [Airbus A319-132](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a319-132) (registry code 3940015) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE V2500SERIES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2500series) (registry code 34601, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2673 - Year built: 2006 - Engines: IAE V2500SERIES 9895 horsepower turbo fan; IAE V2500SERIES 9895 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Spirit Airlines, Inc. - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: MSY, New Orleans, LA - Destination: DFW, Dallas, TX - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 16, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 10,500 total, 3,134 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 42; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: powered-lift; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 17, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,855 total, 973 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95218. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 871 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8348936&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=61%2020%20for%20DCA17CA123_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Employee statements - pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8349334&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Capt%20Report%20NKS%20330-Rel.pdf - Employee statements - fo's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8348903&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FO%20Report%20NKS%20330-Rel.pdf - Employee statements - flight attendant 1'S statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8348952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FA%201%20Report-Rel.pdf - Employee statements - flight attendant 2'S statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8349359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FA%202%20Report-Rel.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.