# NTSB IAD03LA048: Dornier 328-300, N427FJ, Roanoke, VA, April 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 24, 2003, 22:35 local (Apr 25, 2003, 02:35 UTC) - Place: Roanoke, VA - Coordinates: 37.310962, -79.900901 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3110&lon=-79.9009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD03LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56882/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03LA048 ## Probable cause The airplane's encounter with unforecasted clear air turbulence during cruise flight. ## 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 During cruise flight at 22,000 feet, the airplane encountered unforecasted clear air turbulence. The flight attendant, who was standing at the time, sustained serious injuries when she was thrown against the bulkhead, then to the floor. Following the turbulence encounter, the airplane continued to its destination and landed uneventfully. A review of the flight release that was issued to the pilots revealed a warning for occasional moderate turbulence below 12,000 feet for an area several hundred miles to the west of the airplane's route of flight. In addition, no SIGMETs or AIRMETs were issued for the Roanoke, Virginia, area. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 2003, about 2235 eastern daylight time, a Fairchild-Dornier 328-300, N427FJ, operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) as Delta Connection flight 6262, was not damaged after it encountered turbulence during cruise flight. There were no injuries to the two certificated pilots and five passengers; however, the flight attendant sustained serious injuries. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Covington, Kentucky, to Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA), Roanoke, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to the captain, the flight was at cruise altitude at 22,000 feet in visual meteorological conditions. The airplane encountered a "light chop," so he kept the fasten-seatbelt sign illuminated. Without warning, the flight encountered "moderate turbulence" for 2 to 5 seconds. There was minimal altitude loss and the autopilot maintained control of the airplane. Following the turbulence encounter, the crew requested from air traffic control clearance to descend to 19,000 feet, where the remainder of the flight was smooth. The first officer provided a similar account of the events. In a written statement, the flight attendant stated that "continuous light turbulence" was encountered during the flight. While standing in the galley, the airplane suddenly encountered "severe clear air turbulence," which threw her against the bulkhead. As she regained her balance, the airplane encountered more turbulence, which knocked her to the floor. The flight continued to Roanoke Regional Airport and landed uneventfully. A review of the flight release that was issued to the pilots revealed a warning for occasional moderate turbulence below 12,000 feet for an area several hundred miles to the west of the airplane's route of flight. In addition, no SIGMETs or AIRMETs were issued for the Roanoke area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N427FJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N427FJ-2007-07-06), registration cancelled 2007-07-06, S/N 3192, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Dornier 328-300 - Registry model: [Fairchild Dornier DORNIER 328-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-dornier-dornier-328-300) (registry code 3370601) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw306b) (registry code 52164, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW-306B 6050 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Atlantic Coast Airlines, doing business as Delta Connection - Registered owner: First Union National Bank - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: CVG, Covington, KY - Destination: ROA, Roanoke, VA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 7, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 31 in this make and model - Co-pilot; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 10, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 2,560 total, 908 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KROA ## 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 20030424036909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030424036909A), Apr 24, 2003: Dorner DO328300, Roanoke, VA. (-23) A do 328-300, atlanic coast airlines (aca) flight 6262, from cvg to roa, was not damaged after it encountered turbulence during flight; but the flight… 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.