# NTSB DCA22LA191: Boeing 717-200, N946AT, Detroit, MI, August 29, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 29, 2022, 16:43 UTC
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Coordinates: 42.2125, -83.35333
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2125&lon=-83.3533&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, 101 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: Delta Air Lines, Inc
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105843
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA191
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105843/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105843
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA191

## Probable cause

An encounter with moderate turbulence during descent.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Boeing 717-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=1383700), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)
- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Boeing 717-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=1383700), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)
- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Boeing 717-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=1383700), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/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: [Boeing 717-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1383700), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

A flight attendant (FA) was injured when the flight encountered turbulence during descent. According to the captain, he conducted a preflight briefing with the FA and advised of the possibility of light to moderate chop, mainly below 12,000 feet, during the descent into the Detroit area. During the initial descent, at approximately 20,000 feet, the aircraft encountered light turbulence with a few encounters of moderate turbulence for about a minute. The captain gave the final indication (two chimes) shortly afterward and then overheard the FA give the final public address (PA) over the intercom. The remainder of the descent was mainly smooth with a little light chop. Shortly after arriving at the gate and having completed the normal shutdown procedures, the FA came to the cockpit and indicated that she had been injured and requested that the captain report it. According to the FA, she was in the forward galley when the airplane encountered turbulence; she impacted the left side of her body on the galley counter. She indicated that she took a direct hit to her ribs and then fell backward and struck the cabin door with her back. After deplaning was complete, the flight crew gathered their belongings and exited the aircraft. As they exited, the FA showed signs of being in pain; as her left side was becoming more painful. The flight crew helped her to the next gate where she sat down and was met by the paramedics who briefly evaluated her before she was transported to the local hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured rib.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N946AT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N946AT), registered now, S/N 55009, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 717-200
- Registry model: [Boeing 717-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-717-200) (registry code 1383700) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [BMW Rolls BR-700 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bmw-rolls-br-700-series) (registry code 09500, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 55009
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 58673
- Engines: BMW ROLLS BR 700 SERIES 14970 lbs thrust turbo fan; BMW ROLLS BR 700 SERIES 14970 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Air Lines Inc
- Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 26, 2022
- Departed: KBUF, Buffalo, NY
- Destination: KDTW, Detroit, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: runway 21L, 10,001 × 150 ft, unknown
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review July 1, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 3,617 total, 2,333.6 in this make and model, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 12, 2022; seat: right; flight hours: 341.01 total, 341.01 in this make and model, 125.29 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: front
- Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: left
- Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft unknown
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Turbulence: Moderate
- Observed at: KDTW

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105843. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14706457&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight attendant statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 350 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14706069&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Attendant%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Captain statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14705928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=II22-114%20-Crew%20Member%20Injury,%20Turbulence%20-%20CAP%20O%27REILLY%20Stmt.%20-%20DL2968%2029AUG22%20BUF-DTW_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- First officer statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14706273&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=II22-114%20-Crew%20Member%20Injury,%20Turbulence%20-%20FO%20AERNI%20Stmt.%20-%20DL2968%2029AUG22%20BUF-DTW_Redacted-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.