# NTSB MIA85FA178: Airbus Industrie A-300B4-2C, N206EA, Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), May 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1985, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean)
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 19 minor, 53 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31246
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31246/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA178

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,first aid equipment - inadequate (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE ESTABLISHED IN CRUISE FLIGHT CONDITIONS THE COMMERCIAL AIRLINER ENCOUNTERED AN AREA OF FORECAST THUNDERSTORMS. THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO ATTEMPT TO FLY THROUGH THE AREA. AS THE AIRLINER WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE THUNDERSTORMS IT ENCOUNTERED ONE RAPID UP AND DOWN DRAFT. THIS CAUSED 2 SERIOUS INJURIES AND 19 MINOR INJURIES. THE FLT CONTINUED ON TO THE DESTINATION AND WAS MET BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL WHO TREATED AND EVACUATED THE INJURIED. VARYING ACCOUNTS WERE RECEIVED FROM PASSENGERS AS TO WETHER OR NOT THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO ENCOUNTERING THE TURBULENCE, HOWEVER, THE CABIN CREW REPORTED THAT THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME AND A SEAT BELT CHECK HAD BEEN MADE. NEITHERTHE FLT ATTENDANTS NOT THE PASSENGERS REPORTED HEARING A PA ANNOUNCEMENT PRIOR TO THE TURBULENCE. ONE FLT ATTENDANT WAS INFORMED BY THE FLT ENGINEER THAT THEY WERE APPROACHING AN AREA OF ROUGH WX BUT THIS INFO WAS NOT PASSED ONTO THE REMAINING CABIN CREW MEMBERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N206EA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A-300B4-2C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 066
- Airframe hours: 19437
- Engines: GE CF-6-50C 5000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Eastern Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 4, 1985, 1,010 hours before
- Departed: PHL, PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Destination: SJU, SAN JUAN, PR
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 19,070 total, 1,530 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 35,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJU, 530 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 19850528067759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850528067759A), May 28, 1985: Airbus A300B42C, Atlantic Ocean, Puerto Rico. Passengers and attendants injured when aircraft flew through top of a thunderstorm.

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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