# NTSB DCA25LA047: Boeing 777-223, N753AN, Brasilia, Brazil, November 24, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 23, 2024, 23:00 local (Nov 24, 2024, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Brasilia, Brazil - Coordinates: -15, -48 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-15.0000&lon=-48.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 232 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): 195541 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195541/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195541 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA047 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with unanticipated turbulence during cruise flight, which resulted in serious injury to one passenger who was not seated. ## 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 777-223, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1385213), [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-climb to cruise: 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 930 encountered unanticipated moderate turbulence while operating from São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (SBGR), São Paulo, Brazil to Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida on a scheduled international passenger flight. During preflight preparations, the flight crew noted an area of weather instability north of São Paulo. The captain was the pilot monitoring, and the first officer was the pilot flying with another first officer on rest break. The seat belt sign was illuminated, and the flight crew briefed the cabin crew regarding potential turbulence. At 38,000 feet (FL380), after clearing the previously identified weather instability, the airplane encountered two successive jolts of moderate turbulence lasting about five seconds. The flight attendants (FAs) reported service was concluding and they were not seated at that time. Several FAs and one passenger sustained minor injuries when service items and carts became airborne. One passenger found on the floor near door 3L was seriously injured. After coordinating with the cabin crew and consulting with an onboard physician, the flight crew declared a medical emergency and returned to SBGR. The captain assumed the pilot flying duties and conducted an overweight landing on runway 10L without further incident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N753AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N753AN), registered now, S/N 30261, built 2001 (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: 30261 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 90030 - 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 - Registered owner: American Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 23, 2024 - Departed: SBGR, Sao Paulo, OF - Destination: KMIA, Miami, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 19,800 total - Co-pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 9,000 total, 932 in this make and model - Other flight crew; injuries: none; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 11,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Lowest ceiling: 44,000 ft - Turbulence: Moderate ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195541. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19196230&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AA930%2023NOV2024%20NTSB%206120%20Printed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Crew statements (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 456 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19215083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Crew%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.