Unknown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Sunday, November 3, 1985 11:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WASHINGTON AT ABOUT 1040 EN ROUTE TO CHARLESTON, WV UNDER INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES. THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, WITH OCCASIONAL LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE DURING THE CLIMB. AS THE FLIGHT CLIMBED THROUGH 26,000 FEET THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURBULENCE. THE SHORT JOLT TOSSED A FLIGHT ATTENDANT TO THE FLOOR, BREAKING HER RIGHT ANKLE. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND PASSENGERS WERE BRIEFED CONCERNING THE LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE FASTEN SEATBELT SIGN WAS ON. SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS NOT FORECASTED. THE WEATHER STUDY DISCLOSED THAT SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS PROBABLE AT THE FLIGHT'S ALTITUDE AND TIME.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/3/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1105
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City CHARLESTON
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 25301
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport UNKNOWN
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CRW
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total None 58
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2384
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 3 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1215
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29797
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N787N
NTSB Number ATL86LA016
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
Aircraft Series Identifier 737
Aircraft Serial Number 22-4444-
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 100
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Oct 29 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 12433
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PIEDMONT AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2720
Aircraft Owner City WINSTON SALEM
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27102
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
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 DCA
Departure City WASHINGTON
Departure State DC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CHARLESTON
Destination State WV
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --