# NTSB DCA23LA252: Boeing 777-223, N770AN, Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), April 22, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 22, 2023, 12:00 UTC - Place: Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean) · Destination Airport - Coordinates: 39.011172, -41.008763 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0112&lon=-41.0088&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor, 217 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 107126 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA23LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107126/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107126 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23LA252 ## Probable cause An encounter with inadvertent convective turbulence during cruise flight. ## 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 · Accuracy of related info (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 777-223, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1385213), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: illness/injury](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010): Personnel issues › Physical · Cabin crew; cases with it: [Boeing 777-223, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010/cases.md?model=1385213), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010/cases.md) - [Convective weather](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Boeing 777-223, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033000/cases.md?model=1385213), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: 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 American Airlines flight 748 experienced turbulence enroute to Comunidad De Madi (MAD), Madrid, Spain. As a result of the turbulence, three flight attendants sustained injuries, two being serious, while one passenger sustained a minor injury. The airplane was not damaged, and the flight crew continued to MAD where they were met by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) upon landing. The flight was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Charlotte International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, North Carolina to MAD. The flight crew reported having a view of lightning at about an 11 o’clock position. The onboard radar also indicated rain ahead of them. Upon confirming that the sky above them was clear of any cloud cover or weather, the flight crew requested an up to 20-mile deviation of course to avoid the weather ahead, to which air traffic control (ATC) approved. As they approached the area where the radar had previously shown that there was rain, the radar was no longer showing rain and the flight crew could see no signs of rain directly ahead of them. The flight crew reported attempts to reference both of their personal weather apps to confirm the weather shown on the cockpit radar but was unsuccessful due to the lack of internet connection. Because of this, the flight crew concluded the weather to have passed and subsequently decided to no longer deviate from the original course. The unexpected turbulence event was experienced soon after. The flight crew reported that the turbulence was sudden and came without warning. The cabin crew reported they were preparing for arrival service into MAD when they experienced a “sudden loss in altitude” and a series of jolts. The flight and cabin crew both reported that the turbulence lasted around 30 - 40 seconds and that flight crew reported that the autopilot disengaged but did not cause a deviation in altitude of more than 200 feet. Three flight attendants reported they were preparing the back galley for meal service when the unexpected turbulence occurred, causing all three flight attendants to be thrown in the air and “slammed” on the floor. The flight attendants also reported that a passenger was thrown in the air and hit their head. After landing, the three flight attendants were seen by EMTs, and all were taken to the local hospital for further care. The flight crew was aware of thunderstorms in the area, subsequently the seatbelt sign was on, but no announcement was made to inform passengers or cabin crew of potential turbulence. The flight crew informed ATC about the injuries and requested EMTs to meet the airplane upon arrival. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N770AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N770AN), registered now, S/N 29578, built 1999 (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: 29578 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 89844.55 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC RB-211 SERIES 22000 lbs thrust turbo fan; ROLLS-ROYC RB-211 SERIES 22000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: American Airlines Inc, doing business as American Airlines - Registered owner: American Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 20, 2023 - Departed: CLT, Charlotte, NC - Destination: MAD, Madrid, OF - Flight plan: Military VFR - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review January 26, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 198 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1; last flight review August 27, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,799 in this make and model - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 15,720 total - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: none; restraint: none - Cabin crew; injuries: minor; seat: none; restraint: none - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: none; restraint: none ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 216° at 76 knots - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Turbulence: Severe ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107126. 2.2 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=17132757&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01_6120_DCA23LA252_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Crew statements (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17131685&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%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. --- 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.