# NTSB ERA10CA036: Boeing 767-432ER, N825MH, Atlanta, GA, October 27, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 27, 2009, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.636665, -84.428054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6367&lon=-84.4281&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, 11 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 74973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74973/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74973 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA036 ## Probable cause Unforecasted turbulence resulting in a flight attendant being injured. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 767-432ER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=1385134), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/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 767-432ER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1385134), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis The passenger flight was descending into the airport terminal area from 34,000 feet mean sea level (msl), with the seat belt sign on. While the flight attendants were securing the galley, the airplane encountered turbulence. The pilot stated that the airplane encountered the turbulence somewhere between 10,000 and 18,000 feet msl. One of the flight attendants fell into another, causing the second flight attendant to hit her head and fracture a rib. The flight landed without further incident. After landing the airplane was met by paramedics at the gate, and the flight attendant was carried off the airplane. There was no significant meteorological information (SIGMET) issued prior to the event, and there was no damage to the airplane. ## Factual narrative The passenger flight was descending into the airport terminal area from 34,000 feet mean sea level (msl), with the seat belt sign on. While the flight attendants were securing the galley, the airplane encountered turbulence. The pilot stated that the airplane encountered the turbulence somewhere between 10,000 and 18,000 feet msl. One of the flight attendants fell into another, causing the second flight attendant to hit her head and fracture a rib. The flight landed without further incident. After landing the airplane was met by paramedics at the gate, and the flight attendant was carried off the airplane. There was no significant meteorological information (SIGMET) issued prior to the event, and there was no damage to the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N825MH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N825MH), registered now, S/N 29703, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 767-432ER - Registry model: [Boeing 767-432ER](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-767-432er) (registry code 1385134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF6-80 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-80-series) (registry code 30025, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29703 - Airframe hours: 34611 - Engines: GE CF6-80 SERIES turbo jet; GE CF6-80 SERIES turbo jet - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Air Lines Inc - Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 27, 2009 - Departed: LFPG, Parris - Destination: KATL, Atlanta, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KATL, Hartsfield Atlanta Iternationa, runway 08L, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review August 5, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 13,574 total, 7,591 in this make and model, 209 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review April 14, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 10,334 total, 6,957 in this make and model, 178 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 0 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KATL ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20091027051179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091027051179I), Oct 27, 2009: Boeing 767-432ER, Atlanta, GA, No damage. 0N 10/27/2009, about 2130 EDT, delta air lines flight 21 from cdg to atl was on a down wind radar vector to land on runway 8L when it encountered tranisent… ## Other investigations on N825MH (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA15CA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA15CA146), Jun 29, 2015: Boeing 767 432ER (N825MH), Atlanta, GA, no damage. Probable cause: the flight attendant inadvertently slipped off a worn tread descending the crew rest ladder. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74973. 755 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 608 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321819&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Crew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321818&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Crew%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Weather (item 3, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321820&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-Master.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.