# NTSB MIA84FA146: Douglas DC-8-63, N940JW, Miami, FL, April 23, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 1984, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.820892, -80.3003 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8209&lon=-80.3003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor, 188 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30985
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84FA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30985/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA146

## 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 - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - seat belt sign - selected, pilot in command
  - seat belt - improper use of, passenger (contributing factor)
  - seat belt - improper use of, flight attendant (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED INFLIGHT TURBULENCE WHILE DESCENDING INTO MIAMI. FOUR PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITALS. A FLT ATTENDANT & TWO PAX WERE TREATED & RELEASE. ONE PAX REMAINED IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 12 DAYS DUE TO BACK INJURIES. THE FLT ATTENDANTS INDICATED THAT ALL PAX HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS ON. THE INJURED PAX STATED HE WAS PULLED BACK DOWN BY HIS SEAT BELT AFTER IMPACTING THE OVERHEAD. THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ON. THE AREA NORTH & SOUTH OF MIAMI ARPT WAS EXPERIENCING PRE-FRONTAL THUNDERSTORMS WITH TOPS TO 40,000 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N940JW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-8-63
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46155
- Airframe hours: 37380
- Engines: P&W JT3D 19000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: International Air Leases
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: JFK, NEW YORK, NY
- Destination: MIAMI, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA, 15 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 19840423044009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840423044009A), Apr 23, 1984: Doug DC863, Miami, FL, Minor damage. Aircraft encountered turbulence descending for landing at Miami. Four persons received injuries.

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.

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