# NTSB ERA11CA367: Mcdonnell Douglas MD88, N884DA, Miami, FL, June 22, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 22, 2011, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.795278, -80.287223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7953&lon=-80.2872&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, 126 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80911 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA367 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80911/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80911 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA367 ## Probable cause The in-flight encounter with convective 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 · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=3023688), [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-88, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3023688), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the captain, the flight was descending when he notified the cabin crew to take their seats because of anticipated turbulence. Soon after, while descending through 15,000 feet, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence for several seconds. According to the cabin crew, they were providing beverage services when they were notified, and began to secure the cabin when the airplane encountered the turbulence. One of the flight attendants sustained a serious injury, while the others were not injured. The airplane was not damaged and the flight landed uneventfully at the destination airport. ## Factual narrative According to the captain, the air carrier flight was descending when he notified the cabin crew to take their seats because of anticipated turbulence. Soon after, while descending through 15,000 feet, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence for several seconds. According to the cabin crew, they were providing beverage services when they were notified, and began to secure the cabin when the airplane encountered the turbulence. One of the flight attendants sustained a serious injury, while the others were not injured. The airplane was not damaged and the flight landed uneventfully at the destination airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N884DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N884DA-2012-04-23), registration cancelled 2012-04-23, S/N 49762, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD88 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88) (registry code 3023688) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 49762 - Airframe hours: 67993 - Engines: turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Dynamic Airways, LLC, doing business as Dynamic Airways, LLC - Registered owner: Dynamic Jet Lease - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 1, 2011 - Departed: MUHA, Havana - Destination: MIA, Miami, FL - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 8, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 16,176 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 10,976 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 28; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 3,139 total, 214 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: MIA ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80911. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 653 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350531&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Flight Crew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350532&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Crew%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Miami Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350534&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miami%20Weather%20Observations-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.