# NTSB FTW92LA001: Boeing 727-243, N17402, Little Rock, AR, October 5, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 1991, 02:30 local (07:30 UTC)
- Place: Little Rock, AR
- Coordinates: 34.750427, -92.279815 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7504&lon=-92.2798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 52 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18393
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18393/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA001

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SPECIFICALLY WARN THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS OF THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WARNINGS. A FACTOR WAS THE TURBULENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night
  - in-flight weather advisories - issued, atc personnel(artcc)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - not issued, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A BOEING 727-200 ENCOUNTERED FORECASTED SEVERE TURBULENCE ASSOCIATED WITH A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WHILE IN CRUISE AT FLIGHT LEVEL 350. ALL THE PASSENGERS AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WERE SITTING DOWN AFTER THE CAPTAIN HAD TURNED ON THE SEAT BELT SIGN UPON ENCOUNTERING SOME LIGHT CHOP. CABIN SERVICE WAS NEARLY COMPLETED. A FLIGHT ATTENDANT GOT UP TO STOW A BEVERAGE CART IN THE AFT GALLEY WHEN SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED FOR ABOUT 60 SECONDS. A CONVECTIVE SIGMET WAS IN EFFECT FOR THEIR ROUTE OF FLIGHT AND CALLED FOR A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS 15 MILES WIDE, WITH TOPS TO FLIGHT LEVEL 450. THE CAPTAIN DID NOT DIRECT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO SECURE THE CABIN OR DISCONTINUE SERVICE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N17402](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17402-2001-04-27), registration cancelled 2001-04-27, S/N 21265 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-243
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-243](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-243) (registry code 138408D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21265
- Airframe hours: 35050
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9A 14500 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines
- Registered owner: Security Pacific Equip. Lease
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 1, 1991, 34 hours before
- Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 213 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19911005045669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911005045669A), Oct 5, 1991: Boeing 727243, Little Rock, AR. Severe turbulence near thunderstorms at FL350. Seat sign on. Flight attendant injured. Pilot failed advise.

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.