- Date
- April 6, 2008, 22:00 local (Apr 7, 2008, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Miami, FL
- NTSB coordinates
- 25.3728, -82.1644, outside the stated state
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor, 146 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N947ANBoeing 737-823
- Defining event
- Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080407857709A
- Case key
- 67765
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An unexpected encounter with turbulence, during the initial descent for landing.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The Boeing 737-800 encountered turbulence while descending for arrival. The pilot flying (captain) stated that 26 minutes before the scheduled landing he asked the flight attendants to prepare the cabin earlier than normal due to convective weather along the route of flight. Ten minutes after the announcement the airplane encountered turbulence. The pilot reported that both of the airplane's weather radar systems were turned on, and were scanning at 40 and 80 miles range respectively. He reported that the returns showed no convective activity in the immediate area. Two flight attendants were in the aft galley area, after having secured the main cabin for landing, when the turbulence was encountered. During the encounter the attendants were thrown to the ceiling and one sustained a fractured ankle.
Factual narrative
The Boeing 737-800 encountered turbulence while descending from 37,000 feet to 24,000 feet during an arrival to Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami, Florida. The pilot flying (captain) stated that 26 minutes before the scheduled landing he asked the flight attendants to prepare the cabin earlier than usual, due to "weather south and west of MIA and along our route of flight." Ten minutes after the announcement the airplane encountered turbulence with altitude changes of plus or minus 500 feet within a few seconds. The pilot reported that both of the airplane's weather radar systems were turned on, and were scanning at 40 and 80 miles range respectively. He reported that the returns showed no convective activity in the immediate area. The flight attendants reported preparing the cabin for arrival, per the pilot's request. Two flight attendants were finalizing their duties in the aft galley when the airplane encountered turbulence and they were thrown to the ceiling. After they came down they attempted to open the jump seat and secure themselves, but again were thrown to the ceiling. During the sequence, one of the flight attendants sustained a fractured ankle.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N947AN
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-823
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 29536
- Airframe hours
- 22,788
- Engines
- CFM International CFM56, 26,400 hp, turbo fanCFM International CFM56, 26,400 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- American Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- MMUN · Cancun
- Destination
- MIA · Miami, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MIA · Miami International Airport, runway 9, 13,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 1, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 11,100 total · 3,600 in this make and model · 88 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2007
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 7,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 147 in the last 90 days · 28 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night
- Wind
- 190° at 22 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility
- 0.5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MIA, 80 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.