Frontier A20N at Denver on Aug 27th 2019, turbulence injures flight attendant

Last Update: April 27, 2020 / 13:54:48 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Aug 27, 2019

Classification
Accident

Cause
Turbulence injures flight attendant

Airline
Frontier Airlines

Flight number
F9-461

Departure
Minneapolis, United States

Destination
Denver, United States

Aircraft Registration
N328FR

Aircraft Type
Airbus A320-200N

ICAO Type Designator
A20N

A Frontier Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N328FR performing flight F9-461 from Minneapolis,MN to Denver,CO (USA), was descending towards Denver when the aircraft encountered turbulence causing injuries to a flight attendant. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in Denver.

The FAA reported a flight attendant broke a leg when the aircraft encountered turbulence during the descent towards Denver. The occurrence was rated an accident.

On Dec 2nd 2019 the NTSB announced without any further detail that an investigation into the accident has been opened.

On Apr 25th 2020 the NTSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the accident was:

an encounter with isolated convective turbulence

The NTSB wrote:

According to the flight crew, as the flight was approaching 15,000 feet, the captain, who was the pilot monitoring, identified a single cumulus cloud in front of them with the tops at about 15,000 feet, and informed the first officer (FO) of possible turbulence. The FO reduced airspeed to 250 knots in anticipation of the turbulence and the captain advised the flight attendants to take their seats. The airplane then entered moderate turbulence for about 10 seconds.

According to the flight attendants (FA), very shortly after being notified by the captain, the turbulence was encountered. The aft flight attendant was returning to her jumpseat when the turbulence occurred and she was thrown to the floor. After the encounter, she was helped back to her jumpseat by another FA and they informed the flight crew. The flight was met at the gate by medical personnel and the FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken left ankle.

An NTSB Weather Study indicated likely mountain wave conditions between 11,000 and 14,000 feet with cloud formation near the accident site and points eastward, and cloud tops near 15,000 ft.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Aug 27, 2019

Classification
Accident

Cause
Turbulence injures flight attendant

Airline
Frontier Airlines

Flight number
F9-461

Departure
Minneapolis, United States

Destination
Denver, United States

Aircraft Registration
N328FR

Aircraft Type
Airbus A320-200N

ICAO Type Designator
A20N

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