# NTSB DCA25LA312: Mcdonnell Douglas MD 83, N805WA, Miami, FL, August 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 23, 2025, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL · 15 NM from SNDBR fix - Coordinates: 25.799028, -80.282634 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7990&lon=-80.2826&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, 20 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA - AVP, World Atlantic Airlines DOS - NTSB case key (mKey): 200930 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA312 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200930/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200930 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA312 ## Probable cause An encounter with convective turbulence during descent that resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant. ## 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: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD 83, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3023681), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/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: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD 83, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3023681), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis World Atlantic Airlines flight 261, from Abel Santamaría Airport (SNU), Santa Clara, Cuba, encountered turbulence during descent into Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami, Florida. As a result, one flight attendant (FA) sustained a serious injury. According to the captain, they were descending through 12,000 ft when they observed an isolated cloud formation and requested a deviation from air traffic control (ATC). While maneuvering between clouds, the airplane encountered about two seconds of severe turbulence. At the time of the encounter, the fasten seat belt sign was illuminated. After the turbulence encounter, the flight crew contacted the senior FA and were initially informed that there were no injuries and the cabin was normal. Shortly after, the senior FA called the flight crew to advise that one of the FAs had fallen during the turbulence and was experiencing dizziness. The flight continued to MIA and landed without incident. While taxiing to the gate, the senior FA contacted the flight crew and reported that the injured FA was experiencing pain on her right side. The flight crew requested paramedics to meet the flight at the gate. The injured FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a concussion and rib contusion. The FA was hospitalized for four days before being released. According to the injured FA, she was seated near the galley when the fasten seat belt sign was illuminated. She was attempting to fasten her seat belt when the airplane encountered turbulence. She stated that she felt a heavy impact and lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, her colleagues were there and she felt pain on her right side. After the accident, World Atlantic Airlines issued a safety bulletin to all inflight personnel that emphasized the importance of adherence to procedures when encountering severe turbulence, including briefings on expected turbulence during arrival and descent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N805WA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N805WA), registered now, S/N 53470, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO MD 83 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD 83](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-83) (registry code 3023681) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-15) (registry code 52051, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 53470 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 56986 - Engines: P & W JT8D-15 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan; P & W JT8D-15 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Part 121 - Operator: World Atlantic Airlines - Registered owner: Caribbean Sun Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 12, 2025 - Departed: MUSC, Santa Clara, OF - Destination: MIA, Miami, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Data recorder, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,900 total, 6,715 in this make and model, 3,374 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 23, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,800 total, 4,800 in this make and model, 2,086 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 30 in the last 24 hours - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: center; restraint: none - Cabin crew; seat: left; restraint: none - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 4-point - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: right; restraint: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Turbulence: Severe ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200930. 11.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20469094&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA25LA312%20Updated%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20312756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA25LA312%20Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight attendant statements (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20312253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA25LA312%20Flight%20Attendant%20Statements_redacted-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.