Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Valdosta, Georgia 31601
Tuesady, July 5, 1994 8:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON EN ROUTE CLIMB THE DC-9 ENCOUNTERED ABOUT 1 MINUTE OF LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE CAPTAIN ILLUMINATED THE FASTEN SEAT BELT LIGHT AND MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE PASSENGERS TO REMAIN SEATED, BUT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS COULD CONTINUE CABIN SERVICE. ONE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS STANDING IN THE REAR GALLEY AND FELL, BREAKING HER LEG. EXAMINATION OF THE METEOROLOGICAL DATA AVAILABLE REVEALED NO THUNDERSTORMS OR CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY IN THE VICINITY THAT WOULD BE OBSERVABLE ON THE WEATHER AVOIDANCE RADAR.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN ENCOUNTER WITH CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE THAT WAS NOT FORECAST NOR OBSERVABLE ON RADAR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 810
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City VALDOSTA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31601
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 750 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID VLD
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 87
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1280
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 5 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1005
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N901VJ
NTSB Number MIA94LA173
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DOUGLAS
Aircraft Model DC-9-32
Aircraft Series Identifier DC-9-32
Aircraft Serial Number 47275
Certified Max Gross Weight 100800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 118
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VALUJET AIRLINES INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1800 PHOENIX BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City ATLANTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30349
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name VALUJET AIRLINES INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1800 PHOENIX BLVD.
Operator City ATLANTA
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30349
Operator Code VJGA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ATL
Departure City ATLANTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 750
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MCO
Destination City ORLANDO
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --