Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jacks Creek, Tennessee 38347
Friday, June 16, 1989 15:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT WAS DESCENDING TO FL230 WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE. SEVEN PASSENGERS RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES; 11 OVERHEAD PAX SERVICE PANELS BROKEN. THE PILOT HAD EARLIER REPORTED TO ATC ENCOUNTERING LIGHT-TO-MODERATE TURBULENCE THROUGHOUT THE DESCENT, HAD INFORMED THE CABIN CREW OF THE TURBULENCE, AND HAD TURNED THE SEAT BELT SIGN ON. THE PASSENGERS WERE INFORMED OF THE SEAT BELT SIGN AND WERE INSTRUCTED TO SECURE THEIR SEAT BELTS. THOSE PASSENGERS SUSTAINING SERIOUS INJURIES CONFIRMED DURING INTERVIEWS THAT THEIR SEAT BELTS WERE NOT FASTENED. AREA FORECAST ISSUED AT 0545 AND VALID AT TIME OF OCCURRENCE CONTAINED NO FORECAST FOR TURBULENCE EXCEPT IN THE VICINITY OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. AREA FORECAST ISSUED AT 1445 AND VALID AT TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE FORECAST MODERATE TURBULENCE BETWEEN 18,000 AND 42,000 FEET. SIGMET ISSUED AT 1350 FORECAST MODERATE OCCASIONAL SEVERE TURBULENCE ABOVE 27,000 FEET.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PASSENGERS TO REMAIN SEATED WITH THEIR SEAT BELTS FASTENED AS THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED UNFORECAST SEVERE CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City JACKS CREEK
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38347
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MSL
Elevation of weather observation facility 550
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
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) --
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 23
Injury Total None 259
Injury Total Serious 7
Injury Total All 30
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2007
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 16 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41203
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N721DA
NTSB Number ATL89FA161
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 LOCKHEED
Aircraft Model L1011-385-1
Aircraft Series Identifier L1011-385-
Aircraft Serial Number 193C-1139
Certified Max Gross Weight 110000
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 358
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 40459
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DELTA AIRLINES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address HARTSFIELD INT'L ARPT.
Aircraft Owner City ATLANTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30320
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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 DALA
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SEA
Departure City SEATTLE
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 822
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ATL
Destination City ATLANTA
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --