# NTSB DCA21LA095: Boeing 777-223, N789AN, Fort Worth, TX, March 15, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 15, 2021, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Coordinates: 32.8998, -96.9403
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8998&lon=-96.9403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 261 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): 102768
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA21LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102768/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102768
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21LA095

## Probable cause

an encounter with clear air turbulence during approach

## 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: [Boeing 777-223, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1385213), [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.

- [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 777-223, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1385213), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On March 15, 2021, about 1500 central standard time, American Airlines flight 1601, a Boeing 777, N789AN, encountered turbulence during approach into Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), Fort Worth, Texas. Of the 262 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled international passenger flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Cancun International Airport (MMUN), Cancun, Mexico to KDFW. According to the flight crew, the captain made a public address announcement to the flight attendants to prepare for landing between FL200 and FL190. When passing 8,500 ft on vectors for a visual approach to KDFW, the crew heard another aircraft in the area report turbulence on the ATC frequency. Subsequently, the captain called the number 1 flight attendant (FA) to notify him of the potential turbulence and ensure the flight attendants took their jumpseats. Approaching the GACHO intersection at 6,500 feet, the crew stated the aircraft experienced a moderate “jolt” of turbulence lasting about one second. The flight crew stated that the weather was unrestricted visibility and no precipitation in the vicinity of the turbulence encounter. At the time of the turbulence, the FAs had completed securing the cabin. One FA in the aft galley was thrown into the air and then onto the floor against the right side of the aft galley when attempting to reach her jumpseat. She injured her right hip and had to remain on the galley floor for landing. Paramedics met the flight at the gate and transported the injured FA to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken hip. The number 1 FA stated that he believed the turbulence call to his position should have been an “all call” priority as opposed to a phone call. The other FAs did not indicate they heard any additional warnings of impending turbulence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N789AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N789AN), registered now, S/N 30252, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 777-223
- Registry model: [Boeing 777-223](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-777-223) (registry code 1385213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce RB-211 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-rb-211-series) (registry code 54555, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30252
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 79213
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYCE RB.211 SERIES 90000 lbs thrust turbo fan; ROLLS-ROYCE RB.211 SERIES 90000 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, March 14, 2021
- Departed: MMUN, Cancun, OF
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KDFW, Dallas Fort Worth International, runway 31L, 9,300 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review June 30, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 26,500 total, 99 in this make and model, 18,500 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; medical: class 1; last flight review September 20, 2020; seat: right; flight hours: 9,274 total, 1,284 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Cabin crew; seat: front
- Cabin crew; injuries: serious; restraint: none
- Cabin crew; injuries: none
- Cabin crew
- Cabin crew; injuries: none
- Cabin crew; injuries: none
- Cabin crew; injuries: none
- Cabin crew; injuries: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KDFW

## Other investigations on N789AN (2)

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.

- [NTSB DFW06LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA115), Apr 25, 2006: Boeing 777-233ER (N789AN), DFW Int'l Apt, TX, no damage. Probable cause: The in-flight encounter with turbulence in clouds resulting in a flight attendant being injured.
- [NTSB MIA00LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA271), Sep 26, 2000: Boeing 777-223 (N789AN), Miami, FL, no damage. Probable cause: an in-flight encounter with turbulence.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 6, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102768. 5.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12523089&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12536177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight-Crew-Statements_AAL1601_15MAR21_CUN-DFW-Rel.pdf
- Cabin crew statements (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12536187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cabin-Crew-Statements_AAL1601_15MAR21_CUN-DFW-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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