# NTSB ERA11CA247: Boeing 757-2B7, N200UU, Cheltenham, MD, April 17, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 16, 2011, 22:42 local (Apr 17, 2011, 02:42 UTC)
- Place: Cheltenham, MD
- Coordinates: 38.705554, -76.744445 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7056&lon=-76.7444&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, 185 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78886
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA247
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78886/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA247

## Probable cause

The in-flight encounter with turbulence, resulting in an injury to a cabin 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the captain, the air carrier flight was descending out of flight level 240, when he asked the flight attendants to secure the cabin and take their seats because of anticipated turbulence. Approximately three minutes later, the airplane was at flight level 200 when it experienced moderate to severe turbulence for several seconds. According to the flight attendants, they were standing and completing the prelanding requirements at the time, when they were unable to maintain their balance. One of the flight attendants sustained a serious foot injury due to a fall, while the others were not injured. The airplane was not damaged and landed uneventfully at the destination airport.

## Factual narrative

According to the Captain, the air carrier flight was descending out of flight level 240, when he asked the flight attendants to secure the cabin and take their seats because of anticipated turbulence. Two to three minutes later, the airplane was at flight level 200 when it experienced moderate to severe turbulence for several seconds. According to the flight attendants, they were standing and completing the prelanding requirements at the time, when they were unable to maintain their balance. One of the flight attendants sustained a serious foot injury due to a fall, while the others were not injured. The airplane was not damaged and landed uneventfully at the destination airport.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N200UU (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 757-2B7
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27809
- 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: U.S. Airways, Inc.
- Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 16, 2011
- Departed: MCO, Orlando, FL
- Destination: PHL, Philadelphia, PA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 26,606 total, 1,602 in this make and model, 11,471 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 18,974 total, 1,566 in this make and model, 88 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observed at: NAK, 16 nm away

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.

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