Airbus A319 N519NK

Summary

On 3 November 2022 at about 02:40 local time, a Airbus A319 registered N519NK, operated by Spirit Airlines Inc, was involved in an accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. 116 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 November 2022 at 02:40

Classification

Accident

Location

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

29.9933, -90.2590

Aircraft

Airbus A319

Registration

N519NK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

2

Operator

Spirit Airlines Inc

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → New Orleans

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

DCA23LA060

1 person was seriously injured.

The captain’s pitch up input to avoid an overspeed condition, which resulted in a flight attendant falling and fracturing her ankle. Contributing was the airplane’s excessive airspeed during the transition to the automation-managed descent profile.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the flight crew, the airplane was descending to land with the autopilot configured to intercept a managed flight path profile. The airplane was descending in "Vertical Speed” mode at 500 feet per minute, with the airspeed set for 300 knots. As the airplane approached the profile, the crew selected “Managed Descent” mode and the airplane nosed over rapidly to intercept the descending flight path. The first officer checked the altimeter setting and then noticed that the airspeed indicator was approaching the maximum allowable airspeed; he then deployed the speed brakes to about 50%. Simultaneously, the captain took control of the airplane, disengaged the autopilot, and pitched up to avoid an overspeed condition. The crew then reset the automation and commenced a deliberate slow down. Shortly thereafter, the cabin crew called and advised that one of the flight attendants was injured during the maneuver. A flight attendant who was securing carts in the aft galley was hoisted into the air and landed on her left foot, fracturing her ankle. The remainder of the flight continued without incident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.