# NTSB DCA24LA144: Boeing 717-200, N899AT, Cecil, NC, April 3, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 3, 2024, 07:33 local (11:33 UTC) - Place: Cecil, NC · Descending into AVL at 14000 ft - Coordinates: 35.31538, -82.937207 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3154&lon=-82.9372&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, 68 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, Delta Air Lines - NTSB case key (mKey): 194029 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA24LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194029/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194029 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA144 ## Probable cause An encounter with clear air turbulence. ## 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 717-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1383700), [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. - [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 April 3rd, 2024, Delta flight 2763 encountered turbulence during descent into Ashville Regional Airport (AVL), Ashville, North Carolina, resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant. The captain reported he recognized the flight might encounter turbulence since he had encountered it on his previous flight. He stated that during the preflight briefing he informed the cabin crew to remain seated because they were expecting rough air, and it was a short flight. The captain reported that the departure and cruise segments of the flight were smooth and uneventful. On descent, around 14,000 feet, the aircraft encountered moderate turbulence before going into a cloud layer. Following the encounter, the first officer called the lead flight attendant (FA) to ensure everyone was ok while the captain asked air traffic control (ATC) for a right turn to avoid an approaching cloud buildup. The lead FA first reported that everything was ok, however shortly after the initial call, she called again to report that one of the FAs might have a broken leg. The injured FA stated that she was seated in the back of the aircraft and completing her last safety check when the turbulence lifted her out of her seat, and she landed forcefully on her right leg. Another flight attendant hit her head on the ceiling and fell, hurting her lower back. The captain transferred flight and communication duties to the first officer while the captain coordinated paramedics for the arrival into AVL. The captain then reported the turbulence to ATC and reassumed flight duty. The aircraft landed and arrived at the gate with no further issues. The paramedics met the airplane at the gate, and the seriously injured flight attendant was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with multiple fractures in her right leg. Post accident weather analysis suggested that the turbulence was likely caused by windshear associated with an upper front. A pilot from a different flight had reported moderate turbulence between 11,000 and 8,000 feet in a nearby area. However, there were no active advisories for turbulence in the location where the accident aircraft encountered turbulence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N899AT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N899AT), registered now, S/N 55049, built 2005 (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: [Rolls-Royce BR-700 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-br-700-series) (registry code 54565, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55049 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 43171 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC BR715-C1 21000 lbs thrust turbo fan; ROLLS-ROYC BR715-C1 21000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Air Lines, Inc. - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Trust Co Na Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 24, 2024 - Departed: ATL, Atlanta, GA - Destination: AVL, Ashville, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Angle of attack indicator, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review November 17, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 5,074 total, 227 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 32; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review October 14, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 5,000 total, 766 in this make and model - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: rear - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: front - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: rear ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn ## 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 20240403005049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240403005049A), Apr 3, 2024: Boeing 717-200, Asheville, NC, No damage. During descent, aircraft encountered turbulence at approximately 13,000 feet. Aft flight attendant was preparing for landing, was thrown in the air and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194029. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17501992&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17362529&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Crew%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight attendant statements (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17362921&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Attendant%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operator weather packet (item 4, PDF, 11 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17361708&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Delta%20Weather%20Packet-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.