# NTSB MIA88FA032: Airbus Industrie A310, N813PA, Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), November 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 11, 1987, 20:46 local (Nov 12, 1987, 00:46 UTC)
- Place: Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean)
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 32 minor, 105 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31994
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31994/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88FA032

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause)
  - seat belt sign - not used, pilot in command
  - seat belt - not used, flight attendant
  - seat belt - not used, passenger

## Analysis

THE CAPT SAID HE EXPECTED SOME WX DRG THE 1ST 2 HRS OF FLT. AFTER LVLG AT FL 330, THE ACFT WAS IN CLEAR WX, BUT LGT TURBC CONTD FOR A TIME. AFTER THE TURBC HAD STOPPED & THERE WERE NO WX RTRNS ON THE RADAR, THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS TURNED OFF, ALTHOUGH THE CAPT SUGGESTED TO THE PAX THAT THEY KEEP THEIR SEAT BELTS FASTENED. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER (APRX 2 HR & 6 MIN AFTER TKOF), THE ACFT ENCTRD SVR CLEAR AIR TURBC (CAT) W/O WARNING. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT PITCHED, THE AUTO-PLT DISCONNECTED & 35 OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. THREE PAX WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED; 25 PAX & 7 FLT ATTENDANTS RCVD MINOR INJURIES. THE FLT THEN DIVERTED TO MIAMI WHERE THE INJURED WERE TREATED. A WX STUDY SHOWED THE TURBC WAS ENCTRD NEAR THE EDGE OF THE JET STREAM WHERE THE ACFT HAD CROSSED ABOUT 6000' OVER A CELL (OR GROUP OF CELLS). WINDS AT THAT POINT WERE ESTD TO BE FROM 260 DEG AT ABOUT 55 KTS. MODERATE TO SVR TURBC WAS FORECAST NEAR RAIN SHOWERS &/OR TSTMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N813PA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A310
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 449
- Airframe hours: 763
- Engines: P&W PW-4152 52000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Pan American World Airways, doing business as Pan Am
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co. Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: JFK, NEW YORK, NY
- Destination: CCS, CRCS,VENEZUELA, OF
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,233 total, 625 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 260° at 55 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19871111067679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871111067679A), Nov 11, 1987: Airbus A310324, Atlantic Ocean, FL, Substantial damage. Experienced clear air turbulence at altitude. Some passengers and cabin crew hurt. Diverted. Minor damage.

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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