# NTSB DCA19CA010: Airbus A319, N926FR, Denver, CO, October 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 12, 2018, 09:16 local (15:16 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.516944, -104.403892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5169&lon=-104.4039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 22 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Lead agency: Other - NTSB case key (mKey): 98501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA19CA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98501/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98501 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19CA010 ## Probable cause inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence resulting in a flight attendant receiving serious injuries. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On October 12, 2018, about 0916 MDT, Frontier Airlines flight 190, an Airbus A319, N926FR, encountered turbulence while climbing through 24,000 feet after departure from Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado. Of the 24 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant received serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from DEN to Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Austin, Texas. According to the flight crew, the flight encountered only intermittent light turbulence during the initial climb. However, as the airplane was climbing through flight level 240, they encountered continuous moderate turbulence. The airplane began to accelerate rapidly so the captain disconnected the autopilot and increased the climb. There was no convective activity in the area and no reports of any turbulence from other airplanes. At the time of the turbulence encounter, two flight attendance in the aft gally were preparing for cabin service. Initially, the turbulence was light, however, when flight attendants felt the intensity increasing, they moved to get into their jump seats. Before they could get in their seats, they were both thrown into the air and then onto the floor. One flight attendant injured her ankle and the other injured her knee. The captain called back to the cabin and was told that one of the flight attendants was seriously injured. He declared a medical emergency and requested paramedics meet the flight on arrival. After landing, one flight attendant was transported to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken ankle. ## Aircraft - Registration: N926FR (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Airbus A319 (111) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2198 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 697614 - Engines: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES turbo fan; Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Frontier Airlines - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 1, 2018 - Departed: DEN, Denver, CO - Destination: AUS, Austin, TX - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 3, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 3,368 total, 3,368 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 28, 2018; seat: right; flight hours: 625 total, 625 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Turbulence: Moderate ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20181012019839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181012019839A), Oct 12, 2018: Airbus A319-111, Denver, CO, No damage. On 10/12/2018 at approximately 0845 MDT frontier flight 190, den to aus, encountered clear air turbulence while climbing to cruise altitude at 24,000 feet. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 6, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98501. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9758697&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SHQ-F3-MIN-18102606250-Rel.pdf - Crew statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9756025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Frontier%20Flight%20190%20Crew%20Statements-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.