# NTSB MIA94LA173: Douglas DC-9-32, N901VJ, Valdosta, GA, July 5, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1994, 08:10 local (12:10 UTC)
- Place: Valdosta, GA
- Coordinates: 30.840759, -83.270088 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8408&lon=-83.2701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 87 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37572
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37572/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA173

## Probable cause

AN ENCOUNTER WITH CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE THAT WAS NOT FORECAST NOR OBSERVABLE ON RADAR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE ON EN ROUTE CLIMB THE DC-9 ENCOUNTERED ABOUT 1 MINUTE OF LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE CAPTAIN ILLUMINATED THE FASTEN SEAT BELT LIGHT AND MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE PASSENGERS TO REMAIN SEATED, BUT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS COULD CONTINUE CABIN SERVICE. ONE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS STANDING IN THE REAR GALLEY AND FELL, BREAKING HER LEG. EXAMINATION OF THE METEOROLOGICAL DATA AVAILABLE REVEALED NO THUNDERSTORMS OR CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY IN THE VICINITY THAT WOULD BE OBSERVABLE ON THE WEATHER AVOIDANCE RADAR.

## Factual narrative

On July 5, 1994, about 0810 eastern daylight time, N901VJ, a Mconnell Douglas DC-9-32 operated by Valujet Airlines encountered turbulence during climb to cruise over Valdosta, Georgia, The flight was operating as flight No. 109, a 14 CFR Part 121, scheduled, domestic, passenger service from Atlanta, Georgia to Orlando, Florida. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was not damaged and one flight attendant received serious injuries. The rest of the crew and passengers received no injuries. The flight originated about 25 minutes earlier.

The crew reported that during climb at flight level 180 they encountered turbulence that they described as "moderate chop" and then illuminated the seatbelt sign and made an announcement for the passengers to remain seated. They also instructed the cabin attendants that they could initiate cabin service. One flight attendant in the rear galley area suffered multiple fractures of the right lower leg. The flight continued to Orlando, Florida, where the flight attendant was evacuated to a local hospital.

A review of the available meteorological data was conducted and no evidence of thunderstorms, or convective activity in the vicinity of the flight that would have appeared on airborne weather radar was noted.

The DFDR was removed and transported to the NTSB laboratory for readout. The readout indicated the airplane experienced a "G" excursion of minus .4 to plus 2.4 "Gs".

## Aircraft

- Registration: N901VJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-32
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47275
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Valujet Airlines Inc.
- Registered owner: Valujet Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: MCO, ORLANDO, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,900 total, 1,889 in this make and model, 9,900 as pilot in command, 233 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VLD, 1 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 19940705019459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940705019459A), Jul 5, 1994: Doug DC932, Valdosta, GA. Encountered moderate chop on climb to cruise. One flight attendant suffered multiple leg fractures. Read minus 4GS.

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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