# NTSB MIA98LA017: de Havilland DH-8-201, N988HA, Jacksonville, FL, November 1, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 31, 1997, 20:32 local (Nov 1, 1997, 01:32 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, FL
- Coordinates: 30.490053, -81.66941 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4901&lon=-81.6694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 17 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38421
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38421/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA017

## Probable cause

The passengers failure to secure her seatbelt as directed by the flight crew (seatbelt sign illuminated) on initial takeoff climb resulting in her ejection from her seat during an encounter with turbulence.

## Analysis

The PIC stated he was on initial climb passing through 4,500 feet when the airplane encountered severe turbulence. The weather radar was on the 50 mile range with no weather depicted except for rain showers. The seatbelt sign was illuminated. A passenger who unbuckled her seatbelt was ejected from her seat and sustained serious injury.

## Factual narrative

On October 31, 1997, about 2032 eastern standard time, a Dehavilland DH-8-201, N988HA, registered to Wilmington Trust Company, and operated by U.S. Air Express as flight 3040, a 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight from Jacksonville, Florida, to Tampa, Florida, encountered severe turbulence on climbout while passing through 4,500 feet. The pilot requested and received clearance back to the departure airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained no damage. The airline transport-rated pilot-in-command (PIC), first officer, 1 flight attendant and 14 passengers reported no injuries. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Jacksonville International Airport, Jacksonville, Florida, about 2 minutes before the accident, and returned to the destination airport without further incident.

The PIC stated they were passing through 4,500 feet when they encountered severe turbulence which lasted about a microsecond. The weather radar was on the 50-mile range with no weather depicted, except for rain showers. The seatbelt sign was illuminated. The flight attendant informed them after the turbulence encounter that a passenger sustained a broken leg. The passenger stated to the flight attendant and the PIC, "she could not believe how stupid she was for not fastening her seat belt."

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb
  - weather condition - turbulence
  - seat belt sign - not complied with, passenger
  - seat belt - not used, passenger (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N988HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N988HA-2014-06-16), registration cancelled 2014-06-16, S/N 426, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DH-8-201
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-8-202](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-8-202) (registry code 2809007) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw123) (registry code 52129, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 426
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: U.S. Air Express
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: JAX
- Destination: TPA, TAMPA, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,706 total, 9,108 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Observed at: JAX

## 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 19971031040859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971031040859A), Oct 31, 1997: Dhav DHC8201, Jacksonville, FL. Servere turbulence on climbout. Passenger failed fasten seat belt with sign on. Serious injuries. Returned to crg. (-23) during departure (jax-tpa) at…

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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