DCA19CA208

NTSB accident investigation · Mcdonnell Douglas MD88 · Chicago, IL · August 27, 2019

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 26, 2019, 20:37 local (Aug 27, 2019, 00:37 UTC)
Place
Chicago, IL
Injuries
1 serious, 151 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N911DLMcdonnell Douglas MD88
Defining event
Approach: Turbulence encounter
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night
Status
Completed · report April 22, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Case key
100175

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

an encounter with convective turbulence during descent.

Findings · 1

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.

Turbulence: convective turbulenceEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnelMcdonnell Douglas MD-88: 3 casesAll aircraft: 145 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 August 26, 2019, about 2037 central daylight time, Delta Airlines as flight 805, a Boeing MD-88, N911DL, encountered turbulence during descent to the Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois. Of the 152 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured and there was no damage to the airplane. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (KATL), Atlanta, Georgia. According to the flight crew, during initial descent, they heard reports of moderate turbulence from preceding airplanes on arrival. The captain contacted the cabin crew and informed them of the upcoming moderate turbulence and instructed them to be seated. Shortly after, while deviating around an area of weather, the airplane encountered approximately 10 to 15 seconds of moderate turbulence. According to cabin crew statements, they had finished service and had stowed everything they needed to in the galley. The captain notified them that turbulence "was coming in three to five minutes." The aft flight attendant was returning to his jumpseat when the turbulence was encountered and was unable to maintain his balance and fell to the floor. After the turbulence had subsided the injured flight attendant was able to make it back to his jumpseat and immobilize his ankle. The flight attendants informed the flight crew of the injury and medical personnel met the airplane at the gate. A subsequent x-ray indicated the flight attendant sustained a fractured distal fibula.

Factual narrative

On August 26, 2019, about 2037 central daylight time, Delta Airlines as flight 805, a Boeing MD-88, N911DL, encountered turbulence during descent to the Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois. Of the 152 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured and there was no damage to the airplane. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (KATL), Atlanta, Georgia. According to the flight crew, during initial descent, they heard reports of moderate turbulence from preceding airplanes on arrival. The captain contacted the cabin crew and informed them of the upcoming moderate turbulence and instructed them to be seated. Shortly after, while deviating around an area of weather, the airplane encountered approximately 10 to 15 seconds of moderate turbulence. According to cabin crew statements, they had finished service and had stowed everything they needed to in the galley. The captain notified them that turbulence "was coming in three to five minutes." The aft flight attendant was returning to his jumpseat when the turbulence was encountered and was unable to maintain his balance and fell to the floor. After the turbulence had subsided the injured flight attendant was able to make it back to his jumpseat and immobilize his ankle. The flight attendants informed the flight crew of the injury and medical personnel met the airplane at the gate. A subsequent x-ray indicated the flight attendant sustained a fractured distal fibula.

Aircraft

Registration
N911DL
Reported as
Mcdonnell Douglas MD88 (88)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
49542
Built
1978
Airframe hours
80,632
Engines
Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219, turbo jetPratt & Whitney JT8D-219, turbo jet
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Delta Air Lines, Inc
Registered owner
Delta Air Lines, Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
September 27, 2019
Departed
KATL · Atlanta, GA
Destination
KORD · Chicago, IL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
KORD · Chicago O'Hare International
Equipment
Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display

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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
37
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1
Last flight review
August 8, 2019
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,748 total · 1,949 in this make and model · 160 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Age
41
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Medical
Class 1
Last flight review
January 26, 2019
Seat
Right
Flight hours
819 total · 819 in this make and model · 187 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night
Wind
210° at 12 knots
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.69 inHg
Observed at
KORD, 54 nm away

Docket · 14

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 12.8 MB in all.

Other investigations on N911DL · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.