Pilot Debrief

BOEING 767 near Pago Pago — 2010-12-03

Final reportWPR11LA071
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Date
2010-12-03
Location
Pago Pago, AQ
Airport
STU
Aircraft
BOEING 767
Registration
N584HA
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The airplane’s encounter with convectively-induced turbulence, which resulted in serious injury to one flight attendant.

NTSB narrative

Shortly after departure, the airplane experienced what the captain described as three or four “jolts” of moderate turbulence. The captain reported clear skies with thunderstorms in the area. The seatbelt sign was illuminated in the cabin, and the passengers were in their seat. One flight attendant, who was in the aft cabin preparing a beverage cart, sustained serious injuries. The airplane continued to climb and the remainder of the flight was uneventful. The flight data recorder recorded vertical and lateral accelerations consistent with a turbulence encounter. According to the FDR, the disturbance lasted less than 10 seconds, and there was a change in wind speed and direction evident around that time period. Although no convective activity was noted at the accident location at the accident time, satellite imagery identified convective activity in the region. The airplane was ascending near a boundary defined by a significant decrease in atmospheric moisture. This type of boundary is conducive to the propagation of gravity waves and most likely contributed to the convectively-induced turbulence that the airplane encountered.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Environmental
First missed decision gate
Flight crew could have delayed departure due to nearby thunderstorms.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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