Kansas City International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kansas City, Missouri 64153
Friday, December 26, 2008 23:40 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While descending into the destination airfield, the crew deviated course to avoid thunderstorms as turbulence was expected. The flight crew warned the flight attendants and passengers of anticipated turbulence. The captain reported that the airplane then experienced "light chop with areas of moderate to sever[e] turbulence." During the encounter, a flight attendant who was in the aft galley securing a beverage cart fell on her left side and fractured her ankle.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An in-flight encounter with turbulence, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/26/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2340
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Kansas City
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64153
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Kansas City International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KMCI
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2353 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MCI
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.62
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KMCI 270553Z 19015KT 9SM SCT030 17/15 A2962
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 76
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24946
NTSB Notification Source Republic Airlines
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 3 2009 9:26AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N871RW
NTSB Number CEN09LA106
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name EMBRAER
Aircraft Model ERJ 170-10
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17000140
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats 2
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 70
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8909 PURDUE RD STE 300
Aircraft Owner City INDIANAPOLIS
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46268-3152
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 8909 PURDUE RD STE 300
Operator City INDIANAPOLIS
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 46268-3152
Operator Code R61A
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number R61A758X
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) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LGA
Departure City New York
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 949
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MCI
Destination City Kansas City
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2009 11:02AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --