# NTSB DCA18CA055: Airbus A321 231, N670NK, Fort Lauderdale, FL, December 6, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 6, 2017, 03:07 UTC - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.0725, -80.152778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0725&lon=-80.1528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 100 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 18, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 96520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18CA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96520/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96520 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA055 ## Probable cause an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence that resulted in a flight attendant injury. ## 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 A321-231, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3940032), [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-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A321-231, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3940032), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On December 6, 2017, about 2207 eastern standard time, Spirit Airlines flight NKS265, an Airbus 321-231, N670NK, encountered turbulence during approach to land at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One flight attendant received a serious injury and 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 Atlantic City International Airport (KACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, to KFLL. According to the flight crew, the flight encounter the severe turbulence while descending through about 12,000 shortly after entering instrument meteorological conditions. There had been no reports of turbulence in the area and the seat belt sign was activated. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the flight attendants (FA) were conducting their final cabin checks when all five FAs were thrown to the floor. One FA sustained an ankle injury and remained on the floor for the remainder of the flight. After landing, all five FAs were transported to the hospital where the FA was diagnosed with a medial and posterior malleolar facture. ## Factual narrative On December 6, 2017, about 2207 eastern standard time, Spirit Airlines flight NKS265, an Airbus 321-231, N670NK, encountered turbulence during approach to land at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One flight attendant received a serious injury and 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 Atlantic City International Airport (KACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, to KFLL. According to the flight crew, the flight encounter the severe turbulence while descending through about 12,000 shortly after entering instrument meteorological conditions. There had been no reports of turbulence in the area and the seat belt sign was activated. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the flight attendants (FA) were conducting their final cabin checks when all five FAs were thrown to the floor. One FA sustained an ankle injury and remained on the floor for the remainder of the flight. After landing, all five FAs were transported to the hospital where the FA was diagnosed with a medial and posterior malleolar facture. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N670NK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N670NK), registered now, S/N 7106, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A321 231 (231) - Registry model: [Airbus A321-231](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a321-231) (registry code 3940032) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE V2533-A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2533-a5) (registry code 34611, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7106 - Year built: 2016 - Engines: IAE V2533-A5 11990 horsepower turbo fan; IAE V2533-A5 11990 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Spirit Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Spirit Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: ACY, Atlantic City, NJ - Destination: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 6, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 14,300 total, 3,700 in this make and model, 7,300 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 28; injuries: none; airline transport; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 5-point ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown ## Other investigations on N670NK (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA25LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA341), Sep 30, 2025: Airbus A321 (N670NK), Las Vegas, NV, no damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with turbulence during descent resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant who was standing at the time of the encounter. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96520. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 806 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Employee Statements (item 2, .PDF, 368 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Employee%20Statements-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.