Bombardier DHC 8 311 N838CA

Summary

On 13 February 2017 at about 16:15 local time, a Bombardier DHC 8 311 registered N838CA, operated by Commutair, was involved in an accident near Dulles, Virginia, United States. 53 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

13 February 2017 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Dulles, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Washington Dulles Internationa (KIAD)

Coordinates

38.9531, -77.4564

Aircraft

Bombardier DHC 8 311

Registration

N838CA

Category

Airplane

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Commutair

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fayettville → Dulles

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA17CA071

1 person was seriously injured.

an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On February 13, 2017, at 1115 eastern standard time, a Bombardier DHC-8, operated by Commutair as a scheduled flight from Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), encountered turbulence resulting in a serious injury to the flight attendant.  The airplane was not damaged and there were no other injuries. According to the operator, the flight was in smooth conditions during the cruise portion and initial descent.  The Captain stated that as he finished the before-landing checklist at 4,000 feet, approximately 50 miles south of IAD, the flight encountered a "pocket" of moderate turbulence resulting in a descent rate of about 600 feet per minute and an altitude loss of about 400 feet.  The Captain called to the cabin to check on the passengers and the flight attendant reported she injured her leg and could not walk. The flight attendant reported that she was in the final stages of preparing the cabin for landing when the turbulence occurred.  Passengers assisted her until landing and paramedics met the aircraft at the gate.  The flight attendant was diagnosed with a broken ankle.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.