# NTSB NYC01LA096: Dornier 328-100, N423JS, Springfield, VA, April 10, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 2001, 22:00 local (Apr 10, 2001, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Springfield, VA - Coordinates: 38.77927, -77.170745 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7793&lon=-77.1707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 13 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52055 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52055/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA096 ## Probable cause An inadvertent encounter with turbulence during descent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, descent - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, flightcrew - weather condition - turbulence (cause) ## Analysis As the flight approached its destination, it entered an area of convective activity. The first officer contacted the flight attendant and advised her that she should secure the cabin due to possible turbulence. While descending through 4,000 feet, the airplane encountered "moderate or greater chop." During the encounter, the flight attendant was thrown to the floor while attempting to secure the galley. The captain elected to divert the flight to another airport, where it landed uneventfully. The weather recorded at the destination airport, about the time of the accident, included surface winds at 17, gusting to 22 knots, decreasing thunderstorms, scattered cumulonimbus clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken cloud layer at 9,500 feet, and an overcast layer at 11,000 feet. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 2001, about 2200 eastern daylight time, a Dornier 328-100, N423JS, operated by PSA Airlines Inc., as flight 4110, was not damaged during an encounter with turbulence near Springfield, Virginia. The two flight crewmembers and 11 passengers were not injured; however, a flight attendant was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight destined for the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington, District of Columbia, from Charleston International Airport (CHS), Charleston, South Carolina. The scheduled passenger flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to the captain, as the flight approached the Richmond, Virginia area, it became evident that some convective activity had developed in the Washington, D.C. area. The flight crew attempted to establish communication with company facilities to obtain weather and landing field updates, but was not successful. The first officer contacted the flight attendant and advised her that there were thunderstorms in the DCA area, and she should secure the cabin due to possible encounters with turbulence. About 12 miles south of DCA, while descending through 4,000 feet, the airplane encountered "moderate or greater chop (rapid bumps or jolts without appreciable changes in altitude or attitude)." Due to the turbulence, the captain elected to divert the flight to the Richmond International Airport, Richmond, Virginia. The flight landed uneventfully and the crew was then asked by Air Traffic Control to remain parked on a taxiway, to await an open gate. While waiting, the first officer proceeded back to the cabin area to check on the passengers and flight attendant. The flight attendant stated to the first officer that she had been injured during the turbulence encounter, but was not incapacitated, and could continue to perform her duties. Ground paramedics were then notified and met the airplane at the gate. A physician evaluated the flight attendant's injuries and determined that she had fractured her scapula. After the accident, the flight attendant stated to a fellow employee that she was facing the galley and had her arm risen to lock the cup cabinet when the airplane encountered the turbulence. The flight attendant was then thrown into the galley door and fell to the floor. The airplane encountered additional turbulence and the flight attendant was thrown into the lavatory wall and back onto the floor, before proceeding to a passenger seat. The weather recorded at DCA, at 2200 was, winds from 320 at 17 knots, gusts to 22 knots, decreasing thunderstorms, scattered cumulonimbus clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken cloud layer at 9,500 feet, and an overcast layer of clouds at 11,000 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N423JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N423JS-2009-02-17), registration cancelled 2009-02-17, S/N 3032, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Dornier 328-100 - Registry model: [Dornier Luftfahrt 328-100](https://openairdocs.org/model/dornier-luftfahrt-328-100) (registry code 2996100) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW119B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw119b) (registry code 52133, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3032 - Airframe hours: 15864 - Engines: P&W PW119B 2180 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Psa Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 7, 2001, 14 hours before - Departed: CHS, Charleston, SC - Destination: DCA, Washington, DC - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 13, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 14,718 total, 4,142 in this make and model, 13,404 as pilot in command, 245 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 24, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 2,493 total, 1,733 in this make and model, 574 as pilot in command, 262 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 320° at 17 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: DCA, 12 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 20010409006949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010409006949A), Apr 9, 2001: Dorner DO328100, Springfield, VA. (-19) On April 9, 2001 about 2200 EDT, a dornier 328-100, N423JS, operated by psa airlines, inc., as flight 4110, was not damaged during an encounter with… 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.