# NTSB NYC04LA168: Airbus Industrie A319, N812AW, Flat Rock, VA, July 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 2004, 18:42 local (22:42 UTC) - Place: Flat Rock, VA - Coordinates: 37.533332, -77.833335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5333&lon=-77.8333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 110 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, America West Airlines - NTSB case key (mKey): 59678 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59678/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA168 ## Probable cause An inadvertent encounter with turbulence in clouds 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 - normal - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, flightcrew - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (cause) ## Analysis While the airplane was in level flight at 17,000 feet, it encountered turbulence for approximately 10 seconds. A flight attendant reported that another flight attendant working with him in the rear galley had suffered a broken leg. The flight continued, and landed uneventfully. The injured flight attendant stated that he had received notification from the lead flight attendant that it was going to get bumpy on the way down, and to clean up the cabin for landing. The captain stated that at least 10 minutes prior to the encounter with turbulence, he notified the lead flight attendant of the possibility of turbulence on the arrival. The lead flight attendant asked if the captain wanted her to do the "Final" and have all flight attendants take their seats, which he responded yes. The weather reported at an airport located about 22 miles east of the accident location, included 5 miles of visibility, light rain, mist, broken clouds at 2,800 feet, and an overcast cloud layer at 15,000 feet. Thunderstorm activity was also reported in the area. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 2004, at 1842 eastern daylight time, an Airbus Industries A319, N812AW, operated by America West Airlines Inc., as flight 855, was not damaged during an encounter with turbulence, while descending near Flat Rock, Virginia. The two certificated airline transport pilots, two flight attendants, and 106 passengers were not injured. An additional flight attendant was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona; destined for the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Dulles, Virginia. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the scheduled air carrier flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. The captain stated that at least 10 minutes prior to the encounter with turbulence, he notified the lead flight attendant of the possibility of turbulence on the arrival. The lead flight attendant asked if the captain wanted her to do the "Final" and have all flight attendants take their seats, which he responded yes. The airplane was level at 17,000 feet, and encountered turbulence for approximately 10 seconds. An additional flight attendant reported that another flight attendant working with him in the rear galley had suffered a broken leg. The flight continued to IAD and landed uneventfully. The lead flight attendant, who was stationed near the forward bulkhead of the airplane, stated that the captain informed her that "it would get real bumpy as we got closer," and to alert the other flight attendants to finish cleaning up the cabin. The lead flight attendant completed her duties and sat down, unaware of the status of the remaining flight attendants who were stationed at the rear of the airplane. The airplane then encountered a 'horrendous bump," which lasted about 2-3 seconds, throwing the other two flight attendants to the ground. The injured flight attendant stated that he had received notification from the lead flight attendant that it was going to get bumpy on the way down, and to clean up the cabin for landing. He recalled that there was no urgency in the lead flight attendants voice during the notification. About 10 minutes later, while sealing the BOB cart, the airplane went through a small patch of "violent, intense" turbulence, causing the airplane to go downward and then back up in a jerk type motion. During the upward movement of the airplane, the flight attendant fell and broke his leg. The weather reported at an airport located about 22 miles east of Flat Rock, included 5 miles of visibility, light rain, mist, broken clouds at 2,800 feet, and an overcast cloud layer at 15,000 feet. Thunderstorm activity was also reported in the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N812AW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N812AW), registered now, S/N 1178, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A319 - Registry model: [Airbus Industrie A319-132](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a319-132) (registry code 3930340) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE V2500SERIES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2500series) (registry code 34601, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1178 - Airframe hours: 16054 - Engines: International Aero Engines V2524-A5 24800 lbs thrust turbo fan; International Aero Engines V2524-A5 24800 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: America West Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 17, 2004, 5 hours before - Departed: PHX, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: IAD, Dulles, VA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 28, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 8,657 total, 2,000 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 29; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 12, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 5,000 total, 600 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: RIC, 22 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 20040717025989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040717025989A), Jul 17, 2004: Airbus A319132, Flat Rock, VA. (-23) Flight attendant broke his arm due to aircraft experiencing severe turbulence and he was not in his seat. Injury summary not known by ASI. ## Other investigations on N812AW (1) 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. - [NTSB OPS24FA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OPS24FA031), May 29, 2024: Airbus Industrie A319-132 (N812AW), Arlington, VA, incident, no damage, investigation ongoing 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.