N947AN

Unknown
Serious

Boeing 737-823S/N: 29536

Accident Details

Date
Monday, April 7, 2008
NTSB Number
NYC08CA156
Location
Miami, FL
Event ID
20080722X01094
Coordinates
25.372777, -82.164443
Aircraft Damage
Unknown
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
146
Total Aboard
148

Probable Cause and Findings

An unexpected encounter with turbulence, during the initial descent for landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BOEING
Serial Number
29536
Engine Type
Turbo-fan
Year Built
2000
Model / ICAO
737-823
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Multi Engine
No. of Engines
2
Seats
162
FAA Model
737-823

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
AMERICAN AIRLINES INC
Address
1 SKYVIEW DR
MD 8B369
City
FORT WORTH
State / Zip Code
TX 76155
Country
United States

Analysis

The Boeing 737-800 encountered turbulence while descending from 37,000 feet to 24,000 feet during an arrival to Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami, Florida. The pilot flying (captain) stated that 26 minutes before the scheduled landing he asked the flight attendants to prepare the cabin earlier than usual, due to "weather south and west of MIA and along our route of flight." Ten minutes after the announcement the airplane encountered turbulence with altitude changes of plus or minus 500 feet within a few seconds. The pilot reported that both of the airplane's weather radar systems were turned on, and were scanning at 40 and 80 miles range respectively. He reported that the returns showed no convective activity in the immediate area. The flight attendants reported preparing the cabin for arrival, per the pilot's request. Two flight attendants were finalizing their duties in the aft galley when the airplane encountered turbulence and they were thrown to the ceiling. After they came down they attempted to open the jump seat and secure themselves, but again were thrown to the ceiling. During the sequence, one of the flight attendants sustained a fractured ankle.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC08CA156