# NTSB WPR20CA069: Gulfstream G IV, N962SS, Van Nuys, CA, January 2, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 1, 2020, 16:40 local (Jan 2, 2020, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Van Nuys, CA - Coordinates: 34.20972, -118.489997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2097&lon=-118.4900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 13 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100842 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100842/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100842 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA069 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with turbulence during descent, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight crew, during the descent for landing, the airplane was approaching about 16,000 ft when air traffic control informed them of reports of moderate-to-severe turbulence. The flight crew immediately attempted several times to contact the flight attendant to inform her to take her seat, but they were unsuccessful. As the airplane descended through about 12,000 ft, it encountered moderate turbulence. After the encounter, the captain asked the first officer to check on the flight attendant and passengers. The first officer subsequently informed the captain that the flight attendant had fallen and was injured and that he assisted her and then secured her into a seat. The airplane was not damaged. The flight attendant sustained a serious injury. ## Factual narrative According to the flight crew, during the descent for landing, the flight was approaching about 16,000 ft, when air traffic control informed them of reports of moderate to severe turbulence. The flight crew immediately attempted to contact the flight attendant, to inform her to take her seat, but were unsuccessful. As the airplane descended through about 12,000 ft, the airplane entered moderate turbulence. After the encounter, the captain asked the first officer to check on the flight attendant and passengers. The first officer subsequently informed the captain that the flight attendant had fallen and was injured, after which he assisted and secured her into a seat. The airplane was not damaged. The flight attendant sustained a serious injury during the event. ## Aircraft - Registration: N962SS (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Gulfstream G IV (Undesignat) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1121 - Year built: 1989 - Airframe hours: 15303.5 - Engines: Rolls-Royce TAY MK 610-8 13850 lbs thrust turbo fan; Rolls-Royce TAY MK 610-8 13850 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Executive Charters Inc - Registered owner: 8 WindowS, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 10, 2019 - Departed: LAS, Las Vegas, NV - Destination: VNY, Van Nuys, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: VNY, Van Nuys Airport - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 30, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12,000 total - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review October 31, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14,700 total - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; seat: none; restraint: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KVNY ## 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 20200101002579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200101002579A), Jan 1, 2020: Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, Santa Clarita, CA, No damage. Aircraft N962SS was on approach to kvny. ATC advised that there was moderate to severe turbulence. The flight crew notified the cabin server to take a seat.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100842. 933 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 879 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484912&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484913&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF 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.