Airbus A321 N162UW

Summary

On 24 February 2012 at about 21:00 local time, a Airbus A321 registered N162UW, operated by U.S Airways Inc.,, was involved in an accident near Millville, New Jersey, United States. 189 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

24 February 2012 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Millville, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

39.3000, -75.0550

Aircraft

Airbus A321

Registration

N162UW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

U.S Airways Inc.,

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Lauderdale → Philadelphia

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

DCA12FA046

1 person was seriously injured.

an encounter with convective turbulence that resulted in injury to a passenger who was not seated when the seatbelt sign was illuminated.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight encountered severe turbulence and two lightning strikes while the flight was level at 13,000 feet in instrument meteorological conditions. The seatbelt sign had been illuminated since the passing through 18,000 feet during the descent and was on at the time of the encounter.  Prior to the turbulence, a passenger had ignored the seatbelt sign and entered the lavatory, unbeknownst to the flight attendants, who were preparing the cabin for landing. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the passenger was exiting the lavatory and was severely injured. Inflight turbulence and convection advisories had been forecasted for the area where the flight encountered the turbulence. There was a convective SIGMET for severe thunderstorms and for occasional turbulence between 16,000 feet and FL 280. In addition, there were several pilot reports of turbulence in the area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.