# NTSB LAX97LA072: McDonnell Douglas MD-83, N590AA, San Jose, CA, December 22, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 1996, 12:12 local (20:12 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.340286, -121.949607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3403&lon=-121.9496&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 119 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29703 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29703/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA072 ## Probable cause The flight's encounter with severe turbulence while the injured cabin crew was standing. ## 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,clear air (cause) - seat belt - not used, flight attendant (cause) ## Analysis The flight had been in moderate chop for some time during the initial descent. The cabin seat belt sign had been illuminated for about 20 minutes and all passengers were secure in their seats. The cabin crew had just completed a beverage service and were stowing galley equipment at the time. As the aircraft was descending through 17,500 feet one severe turbulence jolt was experienced. The injured cabin crew members were standing in the aft galley; one was able to grab a hand hold while the other one was thrown against the ceiling and back to the floor. The cabin attendant who was thrown to the ceiling sustained a compound fracture of one ankle, which required surgery to repair. The second cabin attendant was treated at the hospital for soft tissue injuries and released. Review of the weather reports disclosed that SIGMET Papa 13 was issued at 221656 and forecast moderate to occasional severe turbulence in the southern portions of California below 18,000 feet. Center weather advisories 01 and 02 were in effect for the time and location of the encounter and predicted moderate to occasional severe turbulence below 22,000 feet. The dispatch weather package provided to the flight crew at Chicago was reviewed. The date/time group for the package preparation was noted to be 221501, prior to the issuance of SIGMET Papa 13 and both center weather advisories. No SIGMETS were noted for the terminal portions of the flight. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 1996, about 1212 hours Pacific standard time, two cabin attendants on American Airlines Flight 407 sustained injuries during a severe turbulence encounter about 75 miles east of San Jose, California, as the aircraft descended through 17,500 feet. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, N590AA, was owned and operated by American Airlines, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 121 as a non-stop regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from Chicago to San Jose. The aircraft was not damaged. One cabin attendant sustained serious injuries and another sustained minor injuries. The remaining two pilots, two cabin attendants, and 115 passengers were not injured. The flight originated at Chicago on the day of the accident at 0932 central standard time. According to statements from the flight and cabin crews, and, transcripts of the air-to-ground communications between the flight and ATC, the flight had been in moderate chop for some time during the initial descent. The cabin seat belt sign had been illuminated for about 20 minutes and all passengers were secure in their seats. The cabin crew had just completed a beverage service and were stowing galley equipment at the time. As the aircraft was descending through 17,500 feet inbound to San Jose, one severe turbulence jolt was experienced. The injured cabin crew members were standing in the aft galley; one was able to grab a hand hold while the other one was thrown against the ceiling and back to the floor. The cabin attendant who was thrown to the ceiling sustained a compound fracture of one ankle, which required surgery to repair. The second cabin attendant was treated at the hospital for soft tissue injuries and released. Review of the weather reports disclosed that SIGMET Papa 13 was issued at 221656 and forecast moderate to occasional severe turbulence in the southern portions of California below 18,000 feet. Center weather advisories 01 and 02 were in effect for the time and location of the encounter and predicted moderate to occasional severe turbulence below 22,000 feet. The dispatch weather package provided to the flight crew at Chicago was reviewed. The date/time group for the package preparation was noted to be 221501, prior to the issuance of SIGMET Papa 13 and both center weather advisories. No SIGMETS were noted for the terminal portions of the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N590AA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N590AA), registered now, S/N 53253, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas MD-83 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83(MD-83)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-83-md-83) (registry code 3022083) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 53253 - Engines: P&W JT8D-217 21000 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: American Airlines, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL - Destination: SJC - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,372 total, 3,372 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MCE ## 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 19961222039619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961222039619A), Dec 22, 1996: Doug DC983, San Jose, CA. Encountered severe turbulence while descending to airport. (.4)the flight had been in moderate chop for some time during the initial descent. The cabin seat… 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.