# NTSB MIA96LA019: Boeing 737-200, N312DL, Pensacola, FL, November 7, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 7, 1995, 14:56 local (20:56 UTC)
- Place: Pensacola, FL
- Location: 30.4410° N, 87.1912° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pensacola, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4410&lon=-87.1912&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 58 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37940
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37940/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA019

## Probable cause

THE PASSENGER FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO BE SEATED AND UTILIZE A SEATBELT.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IN FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, passenger (cause)
  - seat belt - not used, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

The crew stated they were descending from 18,000 feet to 10,000 feet with the seatbelt sign illuminated and an announcement to utilize the seatbelts was made, when they encountered a short incident of turbulence.  One passenger was standing in the isle near the rear lavatory, and was thrown into the rear galley, breaking a leg.

## Factual narrative

On November 7, 1995, about 1456 central standard time, N312DL, a Boeing 737-200 operated by Delta Airlines as a 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight from Dallas, Texas, to Pensacola, Florida, as flight 1808, encountered turbulence on descent to Pensacola. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was not damaged and one passenger received serious injuries. The crew of 5 and the remaining 53 passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Dallas, about 1344 the same day.

The crew stated they were descending from 18,000 feet to 10,000 feet with the seatbelt sign illuminated and an announcement to utilize the seatbelts was made, when they encountered a short incident of turbulence. One passenger was standing in the aisle near the rear lavatory, and was thrown into the rear galley, breaking his leg.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N312DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N312DL-2014-09-05), registration cancelled 2014-09-05, S/N 23084, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-200
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-232) (registry code 1384475) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23084
- Airframe hours: 31550
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15A 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Airlines Inc.
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 2, 1995, 37 hours before
- Departed: DFW, DALLAS, TX
- Destination: PNS, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,300 total, 277 in this make and model, 112 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 16 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PNS

## 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 19951107036239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951107036239A), Nov 7, 1995: Boeing 737232, Pensacola, FL. Encountered severe turbulence on descent into pns. Seat belt sign on. Passenger standing in aisle. Leg was broken.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.