Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Charleston, South Carolina 29401
Friday, July 28, 2000 17:37 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At 1703:55, the enroute control center, reported hazardous weather conditions for the southeast United States in a convective SIGMET several minutes before the flight encountered severe weather. At approximately 1730, while flying at flight level 330 the pilot deviated to avoid thunderstorm activity. At approximately the same time, the pilot turned on the fasten seat-belt sign, and advised the flight attendants to secure their stations. The flight encountered severe turbulence as the pilot maneuvered to avoid convective activity.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather information, and his delay in taking remedial action that resulted in the in-flight encounter with severe weather.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1737
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CHARLESTON
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29401
Event Date Year 2000
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CHS
Elevation of weather observation facility 45
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 13000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 14
Injury Total None 53
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 16
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10006
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2001 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N364PA
NTSB Number ATL00LA072
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Boeing
Aircraft Model 727-200
Aircraft Series Identifier 727-200
Aircraft Serial Number 21107
Certified Max Gross Weight 197700
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 154
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jul 27 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 47930
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GUILFORD TRANSPORTATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14 AVIATION AVE
Aircraft Owner City PORTSMOUTH
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAN AM AIRWAYS CORP.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code RIVA
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 SFB
Departure City ORLANDO
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1653
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PIT
Destination City PITTSBURGH
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2002 12:42PM
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 --