# NTSB MIA98LA054: Boeing 757-232, N618DL, Orlando, FL, January 6, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 6, 1998, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.419084, -81.300689 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4191&lon=-81.3007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 188 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38443 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38443/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA054 ## Probable cause inadvertent encounter with turbulence, which resulted spillage of hot coffee in a passenger's lap. ## 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 - turbulence,clear air (cause) - Miscellaneous/other, cruise - normal - miscellaneous, passenger ## Analysis The flight encountered moderate turbulence, while in cruise flight. During the encounter, a coffee pot fell from a serving cart into the lap of a passenger. The top came off the pot, and hot coffee spilled on the passenger, causing injury. ## Factual narrative On January 6, 1998, about 1815 eastern standard time, a Boeing 757-232, N618DL, registered to Wilmington Trust Company, and operated by Delta Air Lines, Inc. as flight 1402, a Title 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight from Atlanta, Georgia, to Orlando, Florida, had a passenger injured when a coffee pot fell in his lap and spilled hot coffee on him. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft was not damaged and the airline transport-rated captain, first officer, 5 flight attendants, and 181 passengers were not injured. One passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated from Atlanta, Georgia, the same day, about 1723. The captain stated that the first officer was flying the aircraft. After departure from Atlanta they were cleared to cruise at 29,000 feet. They were in between layers of clouds at this altitude and experienced continuous light turbulence. He left the seat belt sign on and had the cabin crew remain seated. They emerged from the turbulent conditions and also were cleared to 27,000 feet. There were no returns on radar within 60 miles of the aircraft and conditions were now smooth with some occasional light turbulence. He then told the cabin crew they could get up and begin cabin service. The captain sated that about 5 minutes after cabin service began, and after having been in smooth conditions for 10 minutes, the aircraft encountered about 4 to 5 seconds of instantaneous moderate turbulence. The aircraft was just east of Valdosta, Georgia at this time. There were no noticeable changes in altitude or airspeed. The remainder of the flight was smooth. He was later notified that coffee had spilled on a passenger, causing injuries. He requested medical assistance to meet the flight on arrival in Orlando. Two flight attendants stated that they were working with a beverage cart in the area of row 44, about 5 minutes after the captain said they could get up. The aircraft encountered turbulence, went up, and then dropped. They and the cart were lifted off the floor. The full coffee pot fell from the top of the cart into the lap of a 7-year-old passenger seated in seat 44D. The top came off the pot and coffee spilled into his lap causing burn injuries. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N618DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N618DL-2019-02-12), registration cancelled 2019-02-12, S/N 22908, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 757-232 - Registry model: [Boeing 757-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-232) (registry code 1384965) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22908 - Airframe hours: 38719 - Engines: P&W 2037 37000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Air Lines, Inc. - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 5, 1998, 8 hours before - Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA - Destination: MCO - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16,010 total, 4,549 in this make and model, 221 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MCO, 200 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 19980106001189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980106001189A), Jan 6, 1998: Boeing 757232, Orlando, FL. Coffee pot spilled on passenger during descent. Encountered cat. Lifted attendants and beverage cart off floor. (-23) a coffee pot inadvertently fell from a… 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.