# NTSB NYC87FA257: Boeing 727-200, N774AL, Pittsburgh, PA, September 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1987, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place: Pittsburgh, PA
- Location: 40.4406° N, 79.9959° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pittsburgh, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4406&lon=-79.9959&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 70 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30516
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA257
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30516/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA257

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - issued, pilot in command
  - passenger briefing - disregarded, passenger (cause)
  - physical impairment, passenger (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, flight attendant (cause)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22984
- Engines: P&W JT8D-17A 15500 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.

- Pilot; age 58; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19870917076919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870917076919I), Sep 17, 1987: Boeing 727264, Pittsburgh, PA. Seat belt sign came on. Lady insisted on going to the lavatory. Thrown to the floor. Paramedics met aircraft.

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.

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