# NTSB MIA84LA052: Boeing 737-201, N811N, Near Tampa, FL, December 29, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1983, 09:08 local (14:08 UTC)
- Place: Near Tampa, FL
- Coordinates: 27.960294, -82.489295 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9603&lon=-82.4893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 7 minor, 38 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31070
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84LA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31070/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84LA052

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - dispatch - improper, dispatcher (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - seat belt - not used, flight attendant (cause)
  - seat belt - not used, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE CAPTAIN REVIEWED AVAILABLE WX REPORTS & WAS AWARE OF THE WX CONDITIONS, INCLUDING CURRENT SIGMETS. HE DECIDED TO FLY A COURSE THAT WAS PARALLEL TO A FRONTAL SYS UNTIL HE COULD GET TO AN AREA WHERE HE COULD CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION. AFTER DEPARTING, HE LEFT  THE SEAT BELT SIGN ON, BUT DID NOT BRIEF THE PASSENGERS TO EXPECT TURBULENCE NOR RESTRICT THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO THEIR SEATS, SINCE HE DID NOT EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER TURBULENCE. WHILE CRUISING AT 17,000 FT MSL, HE USED HIS RADAR AS WELL AS ATC ADVISORIES TO IDENTIFY ADVERSE WX. AFTER TURNING TO AVOID AN AREA OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. AT THAT TIME, 3 FLT ATTENDANTS & 1 PASSENGER WERE WALKING IN THE AISLE OF THE ACFT. ONE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. ONE FLT ATTENDANT & 6 PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE ACFT WAS THEN FLOWN BACK TO TAMPA, FL WHERE IT WAS LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N811N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-201
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22869
- Airframe hours: 1417
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15A turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Piedmont Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 28, 1983, 1 hours before
- Departed: TPA, TAMPA, FL
- Destination: JAX, JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,136 total, 2,900 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TPA

## 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 19831229075059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831229075059A), Dec 29, 1983: Boeing 737201, Tampa, FL. Flew into heavy turbulence while paralleling a line of thunderstorms. Passengers and attendants injured.

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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