Boeing of Canada/Dehav Div DHC-8-311 N328EN

Summary

On 6 August 2009 at about 03:15 local time, a Boeing of Canada/Dehav Div DHC-8-311 registered N328EN, operated by Piedmont Airlines Inc, was involved in an accident near Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States. 33 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 2009 at 03:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.9881, -78.8747

Aircraft

Boeing of Canada/Dehav Div DHC-8-311

Registration

N328EN

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Piedmont Airlines Inc

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Charlotte → New Bern

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA09LA444

1 person was seriously injured.

An in-flight encounter with convective clouds resulting in moderate turbulence and serious injury to a flight attendant.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After leveling off at 14,000 feet mean sea level the flightcrew allowed passenger beverage service to occur. Shortly thereafter the flightcrew noticed a layer of clouds ahead and asked air traffic control (ATC) if they could climb to stay above the clouds. The controller was unable to clear the airplane to climb due to traffic above. The captain informed the flight attendant (FA) who began beverage service to put the cart away and be seated due to anticipated turbulence. The flight entered a cloud layer and was then vectored by ATC 80 degrees to the right to a navigation fix. During the turn, the first officer noticed a small cell of precipitation directly ahead of their flight path. The first officer continued the turn 30 more degrees to avoid the cell but the flight encountered about 15 seconds of moderate turbulence. The beverage cart and the flight attendant became airborne, and when she landed she sustained compound fractures of her left tibia and fibula. She alerted the captain and two passengers assisted the injured FA by securing the beverage cart. The injured FA continued to make all required safety announcements. An emergency was declared with air traffic control and the flight proceeded to the destination and landed without further event. The FA was transported to a hospital for treatment. Postaccident operational testing of the weather radar system revealed it tested satisfactory.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.