Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Indianapolis, Indiana 46241
Tuesady, September 21, 1993 10:17 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING FLIGHT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS COMPLAINED OF HYPOXIA SYMPTOMS. THE FIRST OFFICER INVESTIGATED THE AIRPLANE'S CABIN WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS REPORTED THEY HAD HYPOXIA SYMPTOMS TO THE FLIGHT CREW A SECOND TIME AND THIS TIME THEIR FINGERNAILS HAD TURNED BLUE. THE CAPTAIN REQUESTED, AND RECEIVED, AN ATC CLEARANCE TO DIVERT TO AND LAND AT INDIANAPOLIS. HOSPITAL EXAMINATION OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND FOUR PASSENGERS REVEALED NO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. THE HOSPITAL REPORTS STATED THERE WAS 'POSSIBLE TOXIC INHALATIONAL EXPOSURE.' THE AIRPLANE WAS CHECKED FOR CARBON MONOXIDE AND ORGANIC VAPORS DURING GROUND RUNUP AND FERRY FLIGHT TO THE COMPANY'S MAINTENANCE CENTER WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

an undetermined problem which resulted in the physical impairment of flight attendants, passengers and the first officer.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 9/21/1993
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1017
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City INDIANAPOLIS
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46241
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 952 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID IND
Elevation of weather observation facility 797
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1600
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 88
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5042
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 21 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N527AU
NTSB Number CHI93IA372
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 BOEING
Aircraft Model 737-3B7
Aircraft Series Identifier 737-3B7
Aircraft Serial Number 23842
Certified Max Gross Weight 220000
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 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 17 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 18151
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FIRST NAT'S BANK OF BOSTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 100 FEDERAL ST
Aircraft Owner City BOSTON
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02110
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name USAIR
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2345 CRYSTAL DRIVE
Operator City ARLINGTON
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 22227
Operator Code USAA
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/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PHI
Departure City PHILADELPHIA
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MCI
Destination City KANSAS CITY
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --