Mcdonnell Douglas MD88 near Chicago, IL — 2019-08-27

Probable cause

an encounter with convective turbulence during descent.

NTSB narrative

On August 26, 2019, about 2037 central daylight time, Delta Airlines as flight 805, a Boeing MD-88, N911DL, encountered turbulence during descent to the Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois. Of the 152 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured and there was no damage to the airplane. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (KATL), Atlanta, Georgia. According to the flight crew, during initial descent, they heard reports of moderate turbulence from preceding airplanes on arrival. The captain contacted the cabin crew and informed them of the upcoming moderate turbulence and instructed them to be seated. Shortly after, while deviating around an area of weather, the airplane encountered approximately 10 to 15 seconds of moderate turbulence. According to cabin crew statements, they had finished service and had stowed everything they needed to in the galley. The captain notified them that turbulence "was coming in three to five minutes." The aft flight attendant was returning to his jumpseat when the turbulence was encountered and was unable to maintain his balance and fell to the floor. After the turbulence had subsided the injured flight attendant was able to make it back to his jumpseat and immobilize his ankle. The flight attendants informed the flight crew of the injury and medical personnel met the airplane at the gate. A subsequent x-ray indicated the flight attendant sustained a fractured distal fibula.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Environmental

First missed decision gate

Cabin crew could have been seated earlier to prevent injury.

NTSB coding

• Turbulence encounter · Approach

Evidence available

• FDR / data
• 14 docket documents

Docket documents14

• Operational Factors Attachment 3 - Accident Flight Dispatch Releaseatc
• Operational Factors Attachment 4 - Aircraft Flight Weight Data Recordfdr
• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
• Operational Factors Attachment 1 - Crew Statementsinterview
• Operatioanl Factors Attachment 8 - Delta Air Lines Flight Operations Manual [Excerpts]other
• Operational Factors Attachment 10 - Delta Air Lines On-Board Manual [Excerpts]other
• Operational Factors Attachment 11 - Delta Air Lines Flight Crew Training Manual [Excerpts]other
• Operational Factors Attachment 2 - Flight Crew Training Recordsother
• Operational Factors Attachment 5 - Accident Flight ACARS [Excerpts]other
• Operational Factors Attachment 6 - Archeived PIREPsother
• Operational Factors Attachment 7 - Delta Air Lines Airway Manual [Excerpts]other
• Operational Factors Attachment 9 - Delta Air Lines Operations Manual MD88/90 Vol. 1 and 2 [Excerpts]other
• Weather Studyother
• Operational Factors Specialist Reportreport

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