Bombardier CL-600-2B19 N453AW

Summary

On 3 March 2012 at about 22:20 local time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 registered N453AW, operated by Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp, was involved in an accident near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. 50 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

3 March 2012 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Philadelphia Intl (PHL)

Coordinates

40.2333, -76.9667

Aircraft

Bombardier CL-600-2B19

Registration

N453AW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cleveland → Philadelphia

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA12CA059

1 person was seriously injured.

an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence during descent.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On March 3, 2012, about 1720 eastern standard time, Air Wisconsin 3733, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N453AW, experienced turbulence during descent into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 50 passengers and crew onboard the airplane, one flight attendant received serious injuries and the airplane was not damaged.  The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio to PHL. According to the flight crew, as the airplane was descending through about 17,000 feet, the flight initially experienced light turbulence so the flight crew turned on the seatbelt sign.  Shortly after, the airplane experienced severe clear air turbulence that caused the airplane to drop at least 300 feet.  At the time of the turbulence, the flight attendant (FA) was in the galley securing the beverage cart and was thrown to the ceiling and onto the floor injuring her back.  The FA was assisted into her jumpseat by a passenger.  The flight crew declared an emergency with ATC and requested emergency personnel meet the airplane at the gate.  After landing, the FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a fracture of her L-1 vertebrae.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.