# NTSB DCA23LA395: Airbus A320-214, N229NV, Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 23, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 23, 2023 - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 28.4, -80.35 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4000&lon=-80.3500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/260) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 181 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: Allegiant, FAA/AVP100 - NTSB case key (mKey): 192791 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA23LA395 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192791/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192791 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23LA395 ## Probable cause The flight crew’s abrupt change in pitch in response to a traffic collision advisory system resolution advisory that resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew; cases with it: [Airbus A320-214, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=3940006), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: illness/injury](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010): Personnel issues › Physical · Cabin crew; cases with it: [Airbus A320-214, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010/cases.md?model=3940006), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/260) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A320-214, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/260/sequence.md?model=3940006), [All aircraft, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/260/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100); cases with it: [Airbus A320-214, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100/sequence.md?model=3940006), [All aircraft, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Airbus A320-214, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=3940006), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis Allegiant Air flight 485 flight crew preformed a climb maneuver in response to a Traffic Collison Avoidance System (TCAS) advisory resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant onboard. Flight 485 was at flight level (FL) 230 [23,000 feet] and enroute to the Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Lexington, Kentucky when the event occurred. The flight crew reported they had been on a generally northern course since their departure from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) when they received a heading of 100 degrees from air traffic control (ATC). Jacksonville Center closed the airspace to the North in response to severe weather in the area. Minutes later, the flight crew reported receiving a TCAS traffic advisory (TA) followed immediately by a resolution advisory (RA) to which the flight crew followed the given climb rate, to avoid another aircraft in their path. After the flight crew returned to FL230, they received a call from the lead flight attendant to report that the unexpected climb caused one flight attendant to be “knocked to the ground” and was injured. ATC declared an emergency for the flight after the flight crew reported the injury of the flight attendant and the flight subsequently diverted back to FLL due to significant weather over central Florida. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N229NV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N229NV-2026-07-20), registration cancelled 2026-07-20, S/N 730, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A320-214 - Registry model: [Airbus A320-214](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-214) (registry code 3940006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-5B4/P series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-5b4-p-series) (registry code 13011, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 730 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 74706.4 - Engines: CFM INTL CFM56-5B4/P 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan; CFM INTL CFM56-5B4/3 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Allegiant Air, LLC - Registered owner: Sunrise Asset Management LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 31, 2023 - Departed: KFLL, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Destination: KLEX, Lexington, KY - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 27, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 12,843 total, 5,010 in this make and model, 8,852 as pilot in command, 124 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 25, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,409 total, 128 in this make and model, 1,767 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: right; restraint: none - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: none - Cabin crew; seat: left; restraint: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KXMR, 7 nm away ## 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=192791. 2.5 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=17178817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%206120%20-DCA23LA395%20FLT%20485%20NTSB%20Accident-Incident%20report_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 392 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17178057&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements%20DCA23LA395-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.