Pilot Debrief

AIRBUS A320-232 near Fort Myers, FL — 2009-07-10

Final reportERA09LA396
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Date
2009-07-10
Location
Fort Myers, FL, USA
Airport
RSW
Aircraft
AIRBUS A320-232
Registration
N606JB
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

An inadvertent in-flight encounter with turbulence during approach. Contributing to the accident was the passengers' failure to follow the instructions of the illuminated seatbelt sign.

NTSB narrative

The airplane was descending through 12,500 feet on approach to the airport. The airplane was jolted as it flew through a small cumulus cloud. Specifically, the airplane dropped about 20 feet instantaneously, experiencing a positive g-load of 1.98, followed by a negative g-load of -0.43, less than 1 second later. During that time, a seated passenger did not have her seatbelt fastened. She fell forward into the stowed tray table in front of her, fracturing two ribs. A second passenger was in an aft lavatory and suffered two spinal fractures. The captain had made a passenger announcement during initial descent and prior to the turbulence encounter, emphasizing the need for passengers to take their seats and fasten their seatbelts when the seatbelt sign was illuminated. Additionally, a flight attendant made a public announcement when the seatbelt sign was illuminated. The seatbelt sign had been illuminated since 19,000 feet (about 4 minutes prior) and the airplane was not flying through any precipitation. The captain had also instructed the flight attendants via intercom to sit down a few minutes prior to the turbulence encounter.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Seatbelt sign should have been activated earlier during descent.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • FDR / data
  • ADS-B / radar
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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