- Date
- September 18, 1996, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- San Antonio, TX
- Injuries
- 8 minor, 166 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- DAIGKAirbus Industrie AE 340-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 19676
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
turbulence, and failure of passengers to properly fasten their seat belts and properly hold lap children after the captain announced expected turbulence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The captain reported that approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, while at FL280, the aircraft's airborne weather radar indicated a possible area of turbulence ahead. The captain turned on the seat belt sign. When the flight was 20 nautical miles north of Three Rivers, Texas (THX), the captain made an announcement over the public address (PA) system for the cabin attendants to take their seats. The flight encountered 'strong' turbulence, 30 nautical miles north of San Antonio, Texas, near HENLY intersection. A total of 8 passengers received minor injuries, 3 of which were infants (ages 3 months, 5 months, and 16 months). A severe turbulence inspection was performed and no aircraft damage was found.
Factual narrative
On September 18, 1996, at 1745 central daylight time, an Airbus AE-340-300, German Registration DAIGK, encountered turbulence near San Antonio, Texas, while en route to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. A total of 8 passengers received minor injuries. Of the injured, 1 adult and 3 infants were sent to the hospital, treated and released. The remaining injured passengers were treated by paramedics at the airport. The 3 infant children were "lap children," ages 3,5 and 16 months respectively. The aircraft was being operated by Lufthansa Airlines as Flight DLH 437, under Title 14 CFR Part 129. The flight originated from the Houston Intercontinental Airport at 1653 and encountered the turbulence approximately 52 minutes after takeoff.
The captain reported during an interview conducted by an FAA inspector that, approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, while in cruise flight at FL280, the aircraft's airborne weather radar indicated a possible area of turbulence ahead. The captain turned on the seat belt sign. When the flight was 20 nautical miles north of Three Rivers, Texas (THX), the captain made an announcement over the public address (PA) system for the cabin attendants to take their seats. The flight encountered "strong" turbulence, 30 nautical miles north of San Antonio, Texas, near HENLY intersection. The captain did not notify ARTCC of any injuries until he was executing the Acton 4 arrival procedure at DFW airport, approximately 30 miles south of Acton, Texas, at approximately 1810.
A severe turbulence inspection was performed by Lufthansa maintenance personnel at the DFW Airport. No structural damage was found; however, a cracked overhead plastic light track was found in the main cabin area. The aircraft departed DFW Airport at approximately 2100 for the return leg to Frankfurt, Germany.
Attempts made to obtain a pilot operator report were not successful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- DAIGK
- Reported as
- Airbus Industrie AE 340-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- CFM CFM56, 31,200 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 129
- Registered owner
- Deutsche Lufthansa A G
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- IAH · Houston, TX
- Destination
- DFW · Dfw, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 4,000 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day