NYC87FA257

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 727-200 · Pittsburgh, PA · September 17, 1987

Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
September 17, 1987, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
Place
Pittsburgh, PA
Injuries
1 serious, 70 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N774ALBoeing 727-200
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 16, 1989
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19870917076919I
Case key
30516

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherDescent - normal
Weather condition - turbulenceFactor
Unsafe/hazardous condition warning - issuedPilot in command
Passenger briefing - disregardedPassengerCause
Physical impairmentPassengerFactor
Judgment - poorFlight attendantCause

Analysis

While descending out of flt lvl 270 for lndg, usair flight 10 encountered light to moderate turbulence. Prior to this this encounter, the capt advised all passengers and cabin crew to remain seated and to engage their seatbelts. A similar announcement was made by the cabin attendants. An elderly invalid female passenger stated she had to use to the restroom prior to lndg since her walking device was being shipped and she would not be able to use the facilities at the arpt. The attendants attempted to dissuade her but she prevailed. Two of them helped her to her feet and were in the process of assisting her down the isle when they were all thrown to the floor by inflight turbulence. The passenger sustained two broken bones and other injuries. The flt was given special handling and lndd without further incident.

Aircraft

Registration
N774AL
Reported as
Boeing 727-200
Category
Airplane
Serial number
22984
Engine
P&W JT8D-17A, 15,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Usair
Registered owner
Usair
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
FLL · Ft.Lauderdale, FL
Destination
PIT · Pittsburgh, PA
Flight plan
IFR

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
58
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
26,650 total · 6,770 in this make and model · 150 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Lowest ceiling
None
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
PIT, 100 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.