# NTSB DCA24LA255: Airbus A321-231, N542UW, Waycross, GA, August 8, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 8, 2024, 18:17 local (22:17 UTC) - Place: Waycross, GA · Prior to top of descent into CLT - Coordinates: 30.958958, -82.505951 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9590&lon=-82.5060&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA, American Airlines - NTSB case key (mKey): 194881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA24LA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194881/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194881 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA255 ## Probable cause The aircraft’s encounter with convectively induced turbulence. ## 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 · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus A321-231, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3940032), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md) - [Workload management: task allocation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew; cases with it: [Airbus A321-231, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020/cases.md?model=3940032), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A321-231, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3940032), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis American Airlines (AA) flight 2905 encountered turbulence at flight level (FL) 250 [25,000 ft] while enroute to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) Charlotte, North Carolina. One flight attendant was seriously injured, and 3 flight attendants sustained minor injuries as a result of the turbulence. The flight was a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from Tampa International Airport (TPA), Tampa, Florida to CLT. After reviewing the weather prior to flight, the flight crew stated they opted for a cruising altitude of FL250 based on a PIREP [pilot report] describing smooth air between FL250 and FL260. During cruise, they did not observe weather in the 100 miles ahead of them and the clouds they saw appeared to be below them. As they approached top of descent, the crew described going “heads down” for a few minutes to load performance data into the flight management computer and to review the arrival procedure into Charlotte. The crew described that when they looked up, they saw a rapidly building cumulous cloud directly ahead of the airplane, too close to maneuver around. The first officer immediately illuminated the seat belt sign and the airplane penetrated the top of the cloud. Flight data showed that during the event, the airplane encountered load factors ranging from about 0.17g to 2.75g, which classifies as extreme turbulence. The flight attendants had just completed beverage service and were collecting trash at the time the aircraft encountered the turbulence. Flight attendant 3 and 4 were standing by the aft left door preparing the trash cart, flight attendant 2 was on the opposite side of the cart which was lined up to go down the aisle. During the turbulence the trash cart fell on to flight attendants 3 and 4, and flight attendant 2 fell onto the trash cart. Flight attendant 3 fractured both ankles, and flight attendants 2 and 4 suffered minor injuries. These three flight attendants were unable to complete their duties and were secured in passenger seats for the reminder of the flight. The flight crew declared an emergency and continued the flight into CLT. An off-duty pilot and off-duty flight attendant assisted flight attendant 1 with securing the cabin and manned the aft jumpseats for landing. The landing was uneventful. Paramedics met the aircraft at the gate and transported the injured flight attendants to the hospital. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N542UW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N542UW), registered now, S/N 4134, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A321-231 - Registry model: [Airbus A321-231](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a321-231) (registry code 3940032) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE V2533-A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2533-a5) (registry code 34611, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4134 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 49015 - Engines: IAE V2533-A5 33000 lbs thrust turbo fan; IAE V2533-A5 33000 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, August 7, 2024 - Departed: TPA, Tampa, FL - Destination: CLT, Charlotte, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, 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 37; 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 19, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 7,500 total, 1,657 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 13,873 total, 1,715 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Turbulence: Severe ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194881. 25.4 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=18121587&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2024-08-08%20AA2509%20NTSB%206120%20(002)_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight and cabin crew statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17844993&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AA2905%20TPA%20CLT%20NTSB%20Crew%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Flight data recorder - specialista��s factual report (item 3, PDF, 12 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18029656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FDR-Report_DCA24LA255_FINAL-Rel.pdf - Flight data recorder - attachment 1 (item 4, CSV, 18.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18030920&FileExtension=csv&FileName=FDR-Report_DCA24LA255_Attachment1_TabularData-Rel.csv 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.