# NTSB DCA20CA071: Bombardier CL-600-2D24, N610NN, Waynesville, NC, February 7, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 7, 2020, 01:05 local (06:05 UTC) - Place: Waynesville, NC - Coordinates: 35.488609, -82.988609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4886&lon=-82.9886&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, 22 minor, 50 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): 100913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA20CA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100913/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100913 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20CA071 ## Probable cause An encounter with severe convective turbulence associated with a strong sheared environment associated with the jet stream. ## 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: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1390016), [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: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1390016), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis On February 7, 2020, about 0105 eastern standard time, PSA Airlines flight 5634, a Canadair CRJ-900, N610NN, encountered turbulence during enroute descent to McGhee Tyson Airport (KTYS), Knoxville, Tennessee. Of the 73 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant received serious injuries and there were 21 minor injuries. The airplane sustained minor damage. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT), Charlotte, North Carolina, to KTYS. The accident flight departed 4 hours late due to the late arrival of the inbound airplane in KCLT because of persistent severe weather that had been in the area. According to the flight crew, they kept the seatbelt sign illuminated for the entire flight because of the late night and weather in the area. They indicated that the takeoff, climb, and cruise were uneventful. Most of the flight was conducted at flight level (FL) 220 in clear air, with clouds beneath. As they approached KTYS, the flight was cleared to descend at pilot’s discretion to 13,000 feet. During the descent, the onboard radar was on but did not depict any precipitation in the cloud layer below them. In the early stages of the descent, the flight began entering and exiting various cloud layers and experienced very light/intermittent chop. At about FL 185, the flight went into a cloud and encountered severe turbulence, causing the autopilot to disengage and the airplane pitched nose down rapidly. The pilot flying reduced power, leveled the wings, and the airplane quickly exited the clouds into visual meteorological (VMC) conditions again. The flight continued to experience moderate turbulence during the descent. The captain called back to check on the flight attendants (FA) and passengers but initially received no reply. A short time later, the captain called back again and was informed by a dead-heading flight attendant (FA) that both FAs had been injured. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the forward FA was preparing the galley for landing and was thrown to the ceiling and back to the floor, injuring both ankles. The FA could not stand, and a dead-heading pilot helped her to a passenger seat. The aft FA was conducting final compliance checks in the cabin and was also thrown to the ceiling and back to the floor, causing her to black out for a short time. Multiple passengers received various injuries, that included head bumps/bruises, scrapes, and anxiety issues. Two dead-heading FAs assumed the duties of the two injured FAs for the remainder of the flight. After landing, paramedics met the airplane at the gate and the two FAs and several passengers were transported to the hospital. The forward FA was diagnosed with fractures in both ankles. Post accident examination of the weather data determined that the turbulence encounter occurred in a strong sheared environment with a 155-knot jet stream. Therewere several pilot reports (PIREPs) of moderate to severe turbulence in the area, and there was a National Weather Service SIGMET current for severe turbulence in the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N610NN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N610NN), registered now, S/N 15476, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER CL-600-2D24 - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2d24) (registry code 1390016) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34-8C5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-8c5) (registry code 30050, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15476 - Year built: 2019 - Engines: General Electric CF34-8C5 turbo fan; General Electric CF34-8C5 turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: PSA Airlines - Registered owner: American Airlines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: CLT, Charlotte, NC - Destination: TYS, Knoxville, TN - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,700 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 7,700 as pilot in command, 235 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 30; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,106 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 1,602 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.35 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 55 nm away ## 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 20200207007509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200207007509A), Feb 7, 2020: Bombardier Inc CL-600-2D24, Waynesville, NC, Minor damage. Psa airlines, inc. flight JIA5634 encountered clear air turbulence while enroute from charlotte Douglas international airport (clt) to knoxville mcghee-tyson… ## Docket (21 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100913. 38.6 MB in all. - Weather study (item 1, PDF, 42 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9394693&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA20CA071%20-%20Knoxville,%20KY%20Wx%20Study-Rel.pdf - Meteorology attachment 1 - ncar graphic turbulence guidance (gtg) products (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 583 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9408969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%201%20-%20NCAR%20GTG%20and%20GTGN%20on%20February%207,%202020-Rel.pdf - Meteorology attachment 2 - flight release and weather document (item 3, PDF, 22 pages, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9414709&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachmnet%202%20-%20Dispatch%20Release%20and%20Weather%20Document%20(redac)-Rel.pdf - Operational factors specialist report (item 4, PDF, 46 pages, 722 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9680661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA20CA071%20-%20Operational%20Factors%20Specialist%20Report-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 1 - crew statements (item 5, PDF, 30 pages, 616 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9629812&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%201%20-%20Crew%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 2 - flight crew schedules (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%202%20-%20Flight%20Crew%20Schedules%20original%20and%20modifications_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 3 - flight crew training records (excerpts) (item 7, PDF, 7 pages, 492 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589523&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%203%20-%20Flight%20Crew%20Training%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 4 - accident flight's dispatch release (item 8, PDF, 20 pages, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9644767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%204%20-%20Dispatch%20Release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 5 - accident flight cargo load slip (item 9, PDF, 2 pages, 658 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589194&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%205%20-%20Accident%20Flight%20Cargo%20Load%20Slip_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 6 - accident flight acars messages [excerpts] (item 10, PDF, 6 pages, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589374&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%206%20-%20Accident%20Flight%20ACARS%20Messages%20%5BExcerpts%5D_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 7 - psa airlines operations manual [excerpt] (item 11, PDF, 12 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589532&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%207-%20%20PSA%20Flight%20Operations%20Manual%20%5BExcerpt%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 8 - psa airlines crj pilot operating handbook [excerpts] (item 12, PDF, 12 pages, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%208%20-%20PSA%20Airlines%20CRJ%20Pilot%20Operating%20Handbook%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 9 - psa airlines dispatch standard process manual [excerpt] (item 13, PDF, 12 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589878&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%209%20-%20PSA%20Airlines%20Dispatch%20Standard%20Process%20Manual%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors - attachment 10 - psa airlines flight attendant manual [excerpts] (item 14, PDF, 13 pages, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9588782&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2010%20-%20PSA%20Airlines%20Flight%20Attendant%20Manual%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 11 - psa airlines hazardous weather and radar use training (item 15, PDF, 36 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589826&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2011%20-%20PSA%20Airlines%20Hazardous%20Weather%20and%20Radar%20Use%20Training-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 12 - psa airlines captain upgrade weather radar training (item 16, PDF, 15 pages, 903 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589658&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2012%20-%20PSA%20Airlines%20Captain%20Upgrade%20Weather%20Radar%20Training-Rel.pdf - Operational factors attachment 13 - archived pireps (item 17, CSV, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9589887&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%2013%20-%20Archived%20PIREPs-Rel.csv - Operational factors attachment 14 - accident aircraft maintenance log entries [excerpts] (item 18, PDF, 2 pages, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9588791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2014%20-%20Aircraft%20Mainteannce%20Log%20Entries_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 19, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11658964&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA20CA071%20-Form%206120%20FLT%205634-07FEB2020_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight data recorder - specialista��s factual report (item 20, PDF, 9 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12029091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA20CA071_FDR_Factual_FINAL-Rel.pdf - Flight data recorder - attachment 1 (FDR tabular data for event flight) (item 21, CSV, 19.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12029177&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment1_DCA20CA071_TabData-Rel.csv 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.