Boeing 767-332ER N172DZ

Summary

On 20 September 2000 at about 21:45 local time, a Boeing 767-332ER registered N172DZ was involved in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia, United States. 250 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, 17 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 2000 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Boeing 767-332ER

Registration

N172DZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Lauderdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA267

3 people were seriously injured.

an in-flight encounter with turbulence in clouds during a normal descent, resulting in serious injuries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight was descending out of FL290, when it encountered severe turbulence. The first officer was the pilot flying at the time, the speed brakes were extended, the airspeed was 290 knots, and weather radar was in use, with no indications of conditions associated with turbulence. There were no reports of turbulence from either air traffic control (ATC), or other aircraft. The seat belt sign was "ON" for 10 minutes prior to the accident. At the time of the accident the flight attendants were in the galleys and aisles performing cabin duties associated with the beginning of descent. When the turbulence was encountered, they were thrown initially upward, and then deposited into various positions on the floor and seats. Passengers who had not fastened their seat belts were also thrown vertically upward, and then back down. The flight was provided priority handling for landing, and landed at Atlanta without further incident. According to the flight attendants the flight had encountered "a little chop" while climbing. The "fasten seatbelt" sign was off until they encountered an area of moderate turbulence when the "fasten seatbelt" sign came on and the captain made an announcement. The sign did not go out for the remainder of the flight. The flight attendants had just finished the beverage service and the galley carts were being restocked. The airplane "buffeted for 4-6 seconds." Three flight attendants in the aft galley were "pretty badly hurt." Five flight attendants and three passengers were transported to area hospitals for their injuries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.