# NTSB DEN03LA063: Airbus Industrie A319-111, N917FR, Pueblo, CO, April 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 2003, 20:15 local (Apr 6, 2003, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Pueblo, CO - Coordinates: 38.288887, -104.496665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2889&lon=-104.4967&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 62 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Denver, CO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56763 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56763/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA063 ## Probable cause in-flight encounter with turbulence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise - weather condition - turbulence (cause) ## Analysis The captain stated that the airplane was climbing when they encountered light turbulence at 22,000 feet. One of the pilots called to the flight attendants and asked them to sit down. According to the captain, 30 to 60 seconds later the airplane encountered severe turbulence. One flight attendant fractured two metatarsal bones in her left foot, and another flight attendant received minor injuries. The airplane returned to the airport without further incident. ## Factual narrative 0n April 5, 2003, at approximately 2015 mountain standard time, an Airbus Industrie A319-111, N917FR, owned by Frontier Airlines, Inc., and operating as flight 133, encountered turbulence near Pueblo, Colorado. The captain, first officer, one flight attendant, and 59 passengers were not injured. However, one flight attendant was seriously injured and one received minor injuries. The airplane was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The scheduled domestic passenger flight was being operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121. The flight originated at 1945 from Denver, Colorado, and was en route to Dallas, Texas. The captain stated that the airplane was climbing when they encountered light turbulence at 22,000 feet over Pueblo, Colorado. One of the pilots called to the flight attendants and asked them to sit down. According to the captain, 30 to 60 seconds later the airplane encountered severe turbulence. One flight attendant fractured two metatarsal bones in her left foot, and another flight attendant received minor injuries. The airplane returned to Denver without further incident. The weather packet, issued by the company and ATC reported that nothing more than light turbulence was to be expected. There were no returns on the radar in the immediate vicinity of Pueblo, Colorado. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N917FR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N917FR-2008-08-26), registration cancelled 2008-08-26, S/N 1890, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A319-111 - Registry model: [Airbus A319-111](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a319-111) (registry code 3940000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1890 - Airframe hours: 590.4 - Engines: General Electric CFM56-5B 5/P 22000 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CFM56-5B 5/P 22000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Frontier Airlines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 3, 2003, 18.6 hours before - Departed: DEN, Denver, CO - Destination: DFW, Dallas, TX - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 27, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 7,988 total, 320 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 37; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 12, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 7,069 total, 25 in this make and model, 84 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 70° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: PUB ## 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 20030405005349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030405005349A), Apr 5, 2003: Airbus A319111, Pueblo, CO. (-23) Aircraft encountered severe turbulence enroute from den to dfw at FL240-250. Two ea. Flight attendants sustained injuries. One of the attendants was… 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.