- Date
- September 26, 2000, 05:40 local (09:40 UTC)
- Place
- Miami, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 167 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N789ANBoeing 777-223
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000926015509A
- Case key
- 50338
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
an in-flight encounter with 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
While descending out of FL190 to 10,000 feet and maneuvering around weather cells, about 60 miles southeast of the airport, the flight encountered severe turbulence. A passenger that was exiting a lavatory fell and broke a leg. At the time of the accident the seat belt sign was 'ON' and the passengers had been instructed to remain in their seats with seat belt fastened. The flight landed without further incident.
Factual narrative
On September 26, 2000, about 0540 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 777-223, N789AN, call sign AAL908, operated by American Airlines Inc., encountered severe turbulence while descending for approach to Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an instrument flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 121 regularly scheduled international flight. The airplane was not damaged. The flightcrew of 3, 12 flight attendants, and 152 passengers reported no injuries. One passenger reported serious injuries. The flight had departed Buenos Aires, Argentina International Airport, en route to Miami, Florida, at 2213, September 25, 2000.
The flight was descending out of FL190 to 10,000 feet and was maneuvering around weather cells, at a location about 60 miles southeast of Miami, when it encountered severe turbulence. A passenger that was exiting a lavatory fell and broke a leg. At the time of the accident the seat belt sign was "ON" and a passenger arrival announcement had been made instructing the passengers to remain in their seats with seat belt fastened. The flight landed at Miami without further incident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N789AN
- Reported as
- Boeing 777-223
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30252
- Airframe hours
- 1,003
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce TRENT 892, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Amr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- EZE · Buenos Aires, OF
- Destination
- MIA · FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MIA · Miami International
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 350° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MIA, 60 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.
Other investigations on N789AN · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.