# NTSB LAX96LA090: ATR ATR 42-300, N4202G, Honolulu, HI, December 30, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 1995, 08:43 local (18:43 UTC) - Place: Honolulu, HI - Coordinates: 21.350612, -157.880035 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3506&lon=-157.8800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 23 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29363 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29363/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA090 ## Probable cause the flight attendant's decision to leave her seat in an area of forecast and known moderate turbulence. The turbulence was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor) - planning/decision - improper, flight attendant (cause) ## Analysis According to statements from the captain and the injured flight attendant, the captain was anticipating moderate turbulence for the flight due to frontal system activity over the Hawaiian Islands. The captain briefed the flight attendant on the expected turbulence for the entire flight and kept the seatbelt sign illuminated continuously. Turbulence was encountered for the majority of the flight. Radar vectors were provided for an LDA Runway 26L approach to Honolulu. Also, a descent was made to 7,000 feet with the aircraft heading toward the only clear area between cells shown on both the aircraft and approach control radars. No turbulence had been encountered for several minutes, and the flight attendant elected to do a passenger/seat belt compliance check. The captain said three strong 'jolts' were encountered, accompanied by altitude excursions. The turbulence was encountered as the attendant was returning to her seat in the rear of the aircraft. The flight attendant was bounced off the ceiling twice and sustained a displaced fracture of her left ankle. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 1995, at 0843 hours Hawaiian standard time, a flight attendant onboard Mahalo Airlines Flight 204 sustained a fractured ankle during a turbulence encounter while on approach to Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii. The aircraft, an Avion de Trans ATR 42-300, N4202G, was operated by Mahalo Air, Inc., as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight under 14 CFR Part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft was not damaged. The flight attendant sustained serious injuries; however, the remaining 21 passengers and two crew members were not injured. The flight originated at Lihue, Hawaii, on the morning of the accident at 0757 as a non-stop flight to Honolulu. According to statements from the captain and the injured flight attendant, the captain was anticipating moderate turbulence for the flight due to frontal system activity over the Hawaiian Islands. The captain briefed the flight attendant on the expected turbulence for the entire flight and kept the seat belt sign illuminated continuously. Turbulence was encountered for the majority of the flight. On radar vectors for the LDA Runway 26L final approach to Honolulu, the aircraft was descended to 7,000 feet and was heading toward the only clear area between cells shown on both the aircraft and approach control radars. No turbulence had been encountered for several minutes and the flight attendant elected to do a seatbelt compliance check on the passengers. The captain said three strong jolts were encountered accompanied by altitude excursions. The turbulence was encountered as the attendant was returning to her seat in the rear of the aircraft. The flight attendant was bounced off the ceiling twice and sustained a displaced fracture of the left ankle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4202G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4202G-1998-10-29), registration cancelled 1998-10-29, S/N 050 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ATR ATR 42-300 - Registry model: [Aerospatiale/Aeritalia ATR 42-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-aeritalia-atr-42-300) (registry code 8680920) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0050 - Airframe hours: 18820 - Engines: P&W PW-120 1800 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Mahalo Air - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 29, 1995, 2 hours before - Departed: LIH, LIHUE, HI - Destination: HNL - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,350 total, 830 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HNL, 8 nm away ## 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 19951230047199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951230047199A), Dec 30, 1995: Aerosp ATR42300, Honolulu, HI. Encountered severe turbulence on approach. Flight attendant was bounced off ceiling and received a fractured ankle. 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.