# NTSB DCA19CA198: Airbus A320, N505JB, Charlottesville, VA, August 8, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 8, 2019, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Charlottesville, VA · FL 350
- Coordinates: 38.048384, -78.468254 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0484&lon=-78.4683&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 154 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): 100069
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA19CA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100069/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100069
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19CA198

## Probable cause

an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.

## 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; cases with it: [Airbus Industrie A320-232, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=3930326), [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.

- [Enroute-cruise: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus Industrie A320-232, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md?model=3930326), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On August 8, 2019, at 1630 eastern daylight time, JetBlue Airways flight 1973, an Airbus A320, registration N505JB, experienced turbulence during cruise that resulted in one passenger receiving a serious injury. There were no injuries to the other passengers and crew onboard, and the airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey to Tampa International Airport (TPA), Tampa Bay, Florida. The turbulence encounter occurred in visual meteorological conditions. According to the operator, while enroute in the vicinity of Charlottesville, VA, the flight crew initiated a climb from flight level (FL) 340 to FL380 due to reports of turbulence at the lower levels. During the climb, the aircraft encountered turbulence at FL350. The flight attendants (FA) stated they had just started beverage service when the turbulence began and had started to return to the galley to their jumpseats. The FA at position #3 stated the turbulence caused the beverage cart to shift, resulting in the hot liquid container toppling over onto a passenger in an aisle seat, causing burns to the passenger’s shoulder. First aid was provided to the passenger and Medlink was contacted. Emergency medical personnel met the flight upon arrival and the passenger was diagnosed with second degree burns.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N505JB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N505JB), registered now, S/N 1173, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Airbus A320 (232)
- Registry model: [Airbus Industrie A320-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a320-232) (registry code 3930326) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [IAE V2500SERIES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2500series) (registry code 34601, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1173
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 86605
- Engines: IAE V2527-AE 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan; IAE V2527-AE 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Jetblue Airways, doing business as Jetblue
- Registered owner: Wells Fargo Trust Co Na Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 8, 2019
- Departed: KEWR, Newark, NJ
- Destination: KTPA, Tampa, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,162 total, 4,162 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,502 total, 4,502 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100069. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13246279&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=F1973%20-%20N505JB%20-%206120_R2_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements - cabin crew (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13245675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inlfight%20Satatements-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements - flight crew (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13246221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%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.

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