# NTSB ERA18LA112: Gulfstream Aerospace G V, N90JE, Miami, FL, March 21, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 21, 2018, 05:24 local (09:24 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.795833, -80.285835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7958&lon=-80.2858&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, 2 minor, 5 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96907 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96907/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96907 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA112 ## Probable cause The passengers' failure to comply with the fasten seatbelt sign, with resulted in their injury during an inflight turbulence encounter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-V, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=3980116), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-V, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3980116), [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: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-V, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3980116), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis During their descent for arrival, the flight crew of the business jet illuminated the fasten seatbelt sign. They cycled the seatbelt sign again when the airplane began encountering light turbulence. After deviating left of some adverse weather that was displayed on radar, they continued their descent and encountered moderate turbulence and heavy rain, during which the airplane dropped about 500 to 1,000 ft. Despite the flight crew having warned the passengers by cycling the seatbelt sign during their descent from cruise altitude, three of the five passengers were not wearing seatbelts during the turbulence encounter. One of the unbelted passengers was seriously injured, while the other two incurred minor injuries. The flight subsequently landed without further incident. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2018, about 0524 eastern daylight time, a Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation G-V, N90JE, encountered turbulence while descending on approach to Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami, Florida. The two airline transport pilots and flight attendant were not injured. There were five passengers onboard, one sustained serious injuries, two sustained minor injuries, and two were uninjured. Night, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight was operated by Clover Aviation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport (SBGL), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at 1050 eastern standard time. According to the SIC (second-in-command), while descending from 27,000 ft to 12,000 ft approaching MIA, the PIC (pilot-in-command) turned on the seatbelt sign. While descending to 9,000 ft the PIC cycled the seatbelt sign again and they began to encounter "light chop." The PIC noted red cells on his weather radar, the SIC did not note any cells on his radar. He suggested to the PIC they maintain their present course because he could see Miami's coastline behind a small layer of clouds. The PIC requested a left deviation from air traffic control (ATC), and they turned 20° left and entered clouds as they continued the descent to 4,000 ft; the PIC cycled the seatbelt sign for the third time. During the descent they encountered moderate chop and heavy precipitation. About 7,000 ft they instantly dropped 500-1,000 ft. The turbulence was moderate for a moment and ended at 5,000 ft. When they leveled off at 4,000 ft the flight attendant notified them some of the passengers may be injured. The crew notified ATC they had experienced moderate turbulence but did not notify them of the injured passengers. The three injured passengers did not have their seatbelts fastened at the time of the turbulence encounter. The weather conditions reported at MIA included wind from 290° at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 22° C, dew point 19° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.87 inches of mercury. There were no Convective SIGMETs active for the event location at the event time. No lightning was detection associated with this convection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90JE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90JE), registered now, S/N 552, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE G V (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-V](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-aerospace-g-v) (registry code 3980116) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [BMW Rolls BR700-710A110](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bmw-rolls-br700-710a110) (registry code 09496, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 552 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: BMW ROLLS BR700-710A110 14750 horsepower turbo fan; BMW ROLLS BR700-710A110 14750 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Peyton Holdings LLC - Registered owner: Peyton Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: SBGL, Rio de Janeiro - Destination: Miami, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Heads up display, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 5,800 total - Co-pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 5, 2018; seat: right; flight hours: 5,300 total - Cabin crew; injuries: none ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KMIA, 2 nm away ## 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 20180321009789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180321009789I), Mar 21, 2018: Gulfstream G-V, Miami, FL, No damage. Gulfstream G-V, N90JE part 91 operator, departed brazil (sbgl) inbound to Miami International Airport (mia) with five passengers and a crew of three… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96907. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7744839&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Reporting%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 709 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7745756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather-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.