MIA95LA133

The flight was operating in an area of light radar returns. The seatbelt sign was on and passengers were instructed to remain seated with their seatbelts fastened. A passenger left her seat and walked toward the lavatory. The aircraft encountered a downdraft which caused the aircraft to lose 400 feet of altitude. The passenger broke her right ankle during the encounter.

On May 19, 1995, about 1355 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 737-300, N60312, registered to Wilmington Trust Company and operated by Continental Airlines as flight 567, scheduled domestic passenger service from Cleveland, Ohio, to Tampa, Florida, encountered turbulence near Tallahassee, Florida, resulting in the injury of a passenger who was not seated. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft was not damaged. The airline transport-rated pilot and first officer, 3 flight attendants, and 89 passengers were not injured. One passenger was seriously injured. The flight originated from Cleveland, Ohio, the same day, about 1213.

The captain stated the flight was operating at flight level 290, south of the Tallahassee, Florida. He had the seatbelt sign on and the flight service manager had made an announcement to the passengers to remain seated with their seatbelts on. While maneuvering to miss a light radar return which was in their flight path the aircraft lost 400 feet in a down draft. A passenger who had gotten up from her seat and walked to the aft lavatory received a leg injury during the down draft encounter.