# NTSB FTW83IA072: Mcdonnell-Douglas DC-10-30, N137AA, Thermal, CA, December 30, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 30, 1982, 14:58 local (22:58 UTC)
- Place: Thermal, CA
- Coordinates: 33.479267, -116.100708 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4793&lon=-116.1007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 14 minor, 203 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72810
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83IA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72810/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83IA072

## 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
  - seat belt sign - selected, pilot in command
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause)
  - seat belt - not used, flight attendant (cause)
  - seat belt - not used, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

AT ABOUT 1458 PST, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE FOR A PERIOD OF 8 TO 10 SECONDS WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 35,500 FT. SEVEN PASSENGERS AND SEVEN FLIGHT ATTENDANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE SEAT BELT SIGN HAD BEEN TURNED ON BEFORE TAKEOFF AND HAD REMAINED ON THROUGHOUT THE ENCOUNTER. OF THE PASSENGER WHO WERE INJURED, FOUR STATED THEIR SEAT BELTS WERE OFF, TWO STATED THEIR BELTS WERE LOOSE AND ONE HAD DISREGARDED THE SIGN AND WAS IN THE LAVATORY. THE INJURED FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WERE PREPARING FOR CABIN SERVICE AND WERE NOT RESTRAINED. A REVIEW OF THE AIRLINE'S COMPUTER GENERATED FLIGHT PLAN DATA REVEALED THAT THE MAXIMUM GENERATED TURBULENCE INDEX PREDICTED WAS LIGHT. THERE WAS A CAT SIGMET, VALID FOR THE PERIOD, WHICH REPORTED MODERATE TURBULENCE AT FLIGHT LEVEL 360 TO 370 OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE HECTOR-THERMAL AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N137AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N137AA-2002-05-16), registration cancelled 2002-05-16, S/N 47847, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS DC-10-30
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell-Douglas DC-10-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-10-30) (registry code 3023501) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF6-50 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-50-series) (registry code 30018, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47847
- Engines: GE CF-6-50C 50400 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: American Airlines, Inc.
- Departed: LOS ANGELES, CA
- Destination: DFW, DALLAS/FT WORTH, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TRM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 24,800 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 90 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

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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