# NTSB MIA95LA133: Boeing 737-300, N60312, Tallahassee, FL, May 19, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 19, 1995, 13:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place: Tallahassee, FL
- Coordinates: 30.449289, -84.350616 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4493&lon=-84.3506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 94 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37770
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37770/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA133

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF A PASSENGER TO COMPLY WITH FLIGHT CREW INSTRUCTIONS TO REMAIN SEATED WITH HER SEAT BELT FASTENED WHICH RESULTED IN HER BEING INJURED WHILE WALKING IN THE AISLE DURING A TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - downdraft
  - seat belt sign - selected, pilot in command
  - procedures/directives - not followed, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

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.

## Factual narrative

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60312](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60312-2006-04-03), registration cancelled 2006-04-03, S/N 23363, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-300
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-3TO](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3to) (registry code 138447G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23363
- Airframe hours: 31169
- Engines: CFM CFM56-3-1 20100 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 15, 1995, 37 hours before
- Departed: CLE, CLEVELAND, OH
- Destination: TPA, TAMPA, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,800 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 8,800 as pilot in command, 188 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TLH, 20 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 19950519013739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950519013739A), May 19, 1995: Boeing 737300, Tallahassee, FL. Encountered severe turbulence at FL290. Seat belt sign on. Passenger injured walking to lavatory.

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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