DCA18CA201

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 777 223 · Decatur, TX · June 10, 2018

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 10, 2018, 20:43 UTC
Place
Decatur, TX
Injuries
1 serious, 7 minor, 261 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N750ANBoeing 777 223
Defining event
Approach: Turbulence encounter
Weather
Day
Status
Completed · report July 8, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Case key
97434

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

the passengers failure to comply with the fasten seatbelt sign when the airplane encountered convective turbulence.

Findings · 2

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.

Action: unnecessary actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PassengerBoeing 777-223: 1 caseAll aircraft: 52 casesProbable cause
Turbulence: clear air turbulenceEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnelBoeing 777-223: 4 casesAll aircraft: 78 casesProbable cause

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 10, 2018, at about 2043 UTC, American Airlines flight 60, N750AN, B777-200, turbulence during descent to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Of the 269 passengers and crew onboard, one passenger received serious injuries and seven flight attendants received minor injuries. There was no damage to the airplane. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a scheduled international passenger flight from Narita International Airport (RJAA) Narita, Japan, to KDFW. As the flight began its descent into KDFW, the captain illuminated the seatbelt sign and made a public address announcement reminding passengers that the seatbelt sign was on and that they were to "return to your seats and buckle up for the remainder of the flight." Shortly after the captain notified the flight attendants (FA) to "prepare for landing and take your seats", the airplane entered a band of small cumulus clouds and experienced 10-15 seconds of moderate turbulence. When the turbulence was encountered, the FAs were conducting their final cabin safety checks since the captain had informed them that there might be turbulence during descent. As a result, seven FAs were thrown to the floor and one passenger, who had ignored the seatbelt sign and instructions to remain seated, was also thrown to the floor and injured his left ankle. The FAs notified the flight crew, who arranged for paramedics to meet the airplane at the gate. After landing, the passenger was transported to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken ankle and the seven FA's who had received various minor injuries were treated at the airplane and released.

Factual narrative

On June 10, 2018, at about 2043 UTC, American Airlines flight 60, N750AN, B777-200, turbulence during descent to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Of the 269 passengers and crew onboard, one passenger received serious injuries and seven flight attendants received minor injuries. There was no damage to the airplane. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a scheduled international passenger flight from Narita International Airport (RJAA) Narita, Japan, to KDFW. As the flight began its descent into KDFW, the captain illuminated the seatbelt sign and made a public address announcement reminding passengers that the seatbelt sign was on and that they were to "return to your seats and buckle up for the remainder of the flight." Shortly after the captain notified the flight attendants (FA) to "prepare for landing and take your seats", the airplane entered a band of small cumulus clouds and experienced 10-15 seconds of moderate turbulence. When the turbulence was encountered, the FAs were conducting their final cabin safety checks since the captain had informed them that there might be turbulence during descent. As a result, seven FAs were thrown to the floor and one passenger, who had ignored the seatbelt sign and instructions to remain seated, was also thrown to the floor and injured his left ankle. The FAs notified the flight crew, who arranged for paramedics to meet the airplane at the gate. After landing, the passenger was transported to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken ankle and the seven FA's who had received various minor injuries were treated at the airplane and released.

Aircraft

Registration
N750AN
Reported as
Boeing 777 223 (223)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
30259
Built
2001
Airframe hours
69,852
Engines
Rolls-Royce Trent 892, 90,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanRolls-Royce Trent 892, 90,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
American Airlines Inc
Registered owner
American Airlines Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · June 10, 2018
Departed
RJAA · Narita
Destination
KDFW · Dallas/Ft. Wort, TX
Flight plan
IFR
Equipment
Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B

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 · 7

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
59
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight engineer, Airline transport, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 20, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
10,644 total · 483 in this make and model · 8,432 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 69 in the last 30 days · 11 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot
Age
62
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial, Flight engineer
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 24, 2017
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
10,433 total · 4,521 in this make and model · 815 as pilot in command · 149 in the last 90 days · 49 in the last 30 days · 11 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot
Age
50
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1
Seat
Center
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
3,854 total
Role
Pilot
Age
50
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Unknown
Seat
Center
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
12,467 total
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Minor
Restraint
4-point
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Minor
Restraint
4-point
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Minor

Weather

Conditions
Day
Turbulence
Moderate

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 599 KB in all.