# NTSB DCA17CA194: Mcdonnell Douglas MD 90-30, N938DN, El Paso, TX, September 4, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 4, 2017, 15:31 local (20:31 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Coordinates: 31.807222, -106.376388 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8072&lon=-106.3764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 142 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95980
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA17CA194
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95980/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95980
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17CA194

## Probable cause

an inadvertent encounter with turbulence.

## 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: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-90-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3023690), [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.

- [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-90-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3023690), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On September 4, 2017 at about1531 central daylight time, Delta Air Lines flight 2121, a Boeing MD-90, N938DN, encountered turbulence during final approach into El Paso International Airport (ELP), El Paso, Texas. Of the 143 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia, to ELP. According to the operator, while on approach the flight crew completed the cabin notification and turned the seatbelt sign on. While one of the flight attendants was performing final safety checks and walking to her jumpseat, the airplane encountered turbulence, resulting in the flight attendant hitting her head on the overhead bin. The flight attendant continued to her seat for the remainder of the approach and landing. The flight crew was notified of the event during taxi and they requested paramedics meet the flight at the gate. The flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with head injuries and admitted for observation.

## Factual narrative

On September 4, 2017 at about1531 central daylight time, Delta Air Lines flight 2121, a Boeing MD-90, N938DN, encountered turbulence during final approach into El Paso International Airport (ELP), El Paso, Texas. Of the 143 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia, to ELP. According to the operator, while on approach the flight crew completed the cabin notification and turned the seatbelt sign on. While one of the flight attendants was performing final safety checks and walking to her jumpseat, the airplane encountered turbulence, resulting in the flight attendant hitting her head on the overhead bin. The flight attendant continued to her seat for the remainder of the approach and landing. The flight crew was notified of the event during taxi and they requested paramedics meet the flight at the gate. The flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with head injuries and admitted for observation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N938DN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N938DN-2020-08-25), registration cancelled 2020-08-25, S/N 53353, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD 90-30 (30)
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-90-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-90-30) (registry code 3023690) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [IAE V2500SERIES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2500series) (registry code 34601, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 53353
- Year built: 1995
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
- Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: ATL, Atlanta, GA
- Destination: ELP, El Paso, TX
- Airport: ELP, El Paso Intl

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Observed at: KELP

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95980. 104 KB in all.

- Cabin Crew Statements - 1 (item 1, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%201-Master.PDF
- Cabin Crew Statements - 2 (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%202-Master.PDF
- Cabin Crew Statements - 3 (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%203-Master.PDF
- Cabin Crew Statements - 4 (item 4, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cabin%20Crew%20Statements%20-%204-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.

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