# NTSB FTW95LA176: Mcdonnell Douglas MD-82, N83872, Utopia, TX, April 20, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1995, 22:14 local (Apr 20, 1995, 03:14 UTC)
- Place: Utopia, TX
- Coordinates: 29.609401, -99.529029 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6094&lon=-99.5290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 57 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19401
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19401/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA176

## Probable cause

CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE ENCOUNTERED.

## 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 - turbulence,clear air (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT WAS RESTRICTED TO FL250 DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE PRESSURIZATION COMPONENT. AIRMET 13C WAS IN EFFECT FOR A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH TOPS ABOVE FL450 EXTENDING ALONG AND TO THE NORTH OF THE FLIGHT ROUTE. THE FLIGHT DEVIATED TO THE SOUTH OF THE THUNDERSTORMS; HOWEVER, MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED 3 TIMES IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES WITH EACH ENCOUNTER LASTING ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS. THE CREW REPORTED THE ENCOUNTER AS CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE. THE CAPTAIN STATED 'CLEAR OF CLOUDS, NO TURBULENCE REPORTED BY ATC, NOTHING PAINTED ON OUR, OR ATC RADAR ON OUR FLIGHTPATH, CLEARING NEAREST CELL BY ABOUT 35-40 MILES.' ONE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, WHO WAS IN THE COCKPIT, REPORTED SITTING ON THE COCKPIT FLOOR AND HOLDING ON TO ARM RESTS DURING THE TURBULENCE. AFTER DEPARTING THE COCKPIT, SHE RESPONDED TO A CALL FROM THE SERIOUSLY INJURED FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

## Factual narrative

On April 19, 1995, at 2214 central daylight time, Continental Airlines Flight 276, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, N83872, encountered turbulence near Utopia, Texas.  Of the six crew members, one flight attendant received serious injuries; however, the 52 passengers were not injured.  Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 121 flight from Denver, Colorado, to Houston, Texas.

Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) reported that Airmet 13C was in effect for a line of severe thunderstorms, with tops above FL450, extending from Oklahoma into south Texas.  Company personnel stated that the flight was restricted to FL250 due to an inoperative pressurization component.  The crew reported that the passenger seat belt sign was "ON" and all passengers remained seated.  En route at FL250 (54 miles on the San Antonio 262 degree radial) the flight deviated south of the thunderstorms; however, moderate to severe turbulence was encountered three times in a time span of about 10 minutes with each encounter lasting about 5 to 10 seconds.  The captain reported the flight encountered clear air turbulence.  He further stated that the flight path at night was "clear of the clouds, no turbulence reported by ATC, nothing painted on our, or ATC radar on our flightpath, clearing nearest cell by about 35-40 miles."

One flight attendant, who was in the cockpit, reported "puffy dark clouds, visible straight ahead through the cockpit windows when we entered them and the third event occurred."  She further stated "I held on to both arm rest and sat on the floor until the turbulence ended."  After departing the cockpit, she responded to a call from the injured flight attendant in the aft cabin.  The flight landed at 2246 at Houston International Airport, Houston, Texas, without further incident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N83872 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-82
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 49120
- Airframe hours: 39177
- Engines: P&W JT8D-217 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: First Security Bank Of Utah
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 13, 1995, 61 hours before
- Departed: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Destination: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- 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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