Delta B752 near Seattle on Feb 27th 2011, turbulence injures 2

Last Update: November 28, 2012 / 13:28:16 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Feb 27, 2011

Classification
Report

Cause
Turbulence

Airline
Delta Airlines

Flight number
DL-1557

Departure
Salt Lake City, United States

Destination
Seattle, United States

Aircraft Registration
N684DA

Aircraft Type
Boeing 757-200

ICAO Type Designator
B752

A Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200, registration N684DA performing flight DL-1557 from Salt Lake City,UT to Seattle,WA (USA) with 184 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute about 45 minutes prior to estimated landing when air traffic control advised the crew of a pilot report indicating light to moderate chop while descending through about FL200 and 16,000 feet. The captain thus instructed cabin crew to secure the cabin early and to expect a bumpy descent, the initial and final chimes would be given earlier than the usual 20 and 10 minutes prior to landing. Upon leaving FL350 the captain illuminated the fasten seat belt sign and made an announcement including the cabin crew should prepare the cabin for arrival. While the aircraft descended through FL260, the captain toggled the seat belt sign twice (final chimes), at FL250 the first officer, pilot flying, began to slow the aircraft to turbulence penetration speed. About a minute later, descending through FL240 about 50nm southeast of Seattle around 22:20L (06:20Z Feb 28th) and entering a layer of cloud, the aircraft encountered moderate turbulence that lasted for 30 seconds. At that time, three flight attendants were still out of their seats securing the cabin, and a passenger was returning from the lavatory. One of the three flight attendants, located near the aft galley and just making an announcement, as well as the passenger returning from the lavatory were thrown to the floor and received injuries. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in Seattle.

On Oct 6th 2012 the NTSB released their factual report reporting that light rain and winds gusting up to 20 knots were moving through the area at the time. The flight attendant thrown to the floor received fractures of the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones in her right foot, the passenger complained about a sore ankle and was released after medical evaluation at the airport.

On Nov 28th 2012 the NTSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the accident was:

The airplane's encounter with moderate turbulence at a higher altitude than the flight crew expected, resulting in an injury to a cabin crewmember.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Feb 27, 2011

Classification
Report

Cause
Turbulence

Airline
Delta Airlines

Flight number
DL-1557

Departure
Salt Lake City, United States

Destination
Seattle, United States

Aircraft Registration
N684DA

Aircraft Type
Boeing 757-200

ICAO Type Designator
B752

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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