Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Traverse City, Michigan 49686
Thursday, July 30, 2009 21:02 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight, the cockpit crew was alerted by a passenger that the single flight attendant had become "no longer coherent" and was performing "numerous unusual activities." The captain instructed the passenger to get the flight attendant seated and the beverage cart stowed, and then diverted to a nearby airport. The flight attendant was transported to a local emergency room and diagnosed with "acute anxiety." There were no indications that the flight attendant had any pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions. According to 14 Code of Federal Regulations 121.391, a single flight attendant was required for the incident flight. In addition, there are no medical standards for flight attendants currently stipulated by federal regulations.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flight attendant's incapacitation due to an anxiety attack.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 7/30/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2102
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Traverse City
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49686
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 444430N
Event Location Longitude 0853457W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KTVC
Elevation of weather observation facility 624
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 4600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.8
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 33
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26976
NTSB Notification Source Mesaba Airlines
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 26 2010 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N452XJ
NTSB Number CEN09IA606
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 SAAB
Aircraft Model 340B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 340B-452
Certified Max Gross Weight 29000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 37
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jul 29 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Lambert Leasing, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 21300 Ridgetop Circle
Aircraft Owner City Sterling
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20166-6520
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Mesaba Aviation, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1000 Blue Gentian Road
Operator City Eagan
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55124
Operator Code MALA
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 --
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 KDTW
Departure City Detroit
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2018
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KSAW
Destination City Marquette
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 9 2010 2:15PM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --