Pilot Debrief

AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A319 132 near Minneapolis, MN — 2016-02-14

Final reportDCA16CA089
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Date
2016-02-14
Location
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Aircraft
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A319 132
Registration
N827AW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

an encounter with turbulence that resulted in a serious injury to a passenger who was standing when the fasten seatbelt sign was illuminated.

NTSB narrative

On February 14, 2016, about 04:35 central standard time, American Airlines flight 476, an Airbus A319, N827AW, encountered turbulence during the initial descent to Minneapolis International Airport (MSP), Minneapolis, Minnesota. Of the 100 passengers and crew onboard, one passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona, to MSP. The flight crew stated that at FL350, prior to their planned top-of-descent, Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) informed them to expect light turbulence during the descent through about FL280. The captain made a public address announcement to the passengers and cabin crew to expect light turbulence so to fasten their seatbelts. The seatbelt sign was on at that time, and had been on most of the flight due to light turbulence. As the flight was descending through about FL310, the nose of the airplane dipped down and the airspeed increased, and to avoid an overspeed the pilot flying pitched the nose up and deployed the speed brakes. Subsequently, they received a call from the flight attendants that a passenger had been injured after having stood up "to stretch" just before the turbulence. After arriving at the gate, the passenger was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken leg.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Passenger stood up to stretch despite turbulence warning.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • FDR / data
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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