Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bradley, Illinois 60915
Monday, April 5, 2010 19:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane entered a cumulus or convective cloud system and encountered moderate to severe turbulence as it approached its destination. The single flight attendant in the cabin hit her head on the cabin roof and then fell, fracturing her tail bone. The flight attendant was able to complete her duties and sought medical assistance after landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flightcrew's encounter with convectively induced turbulence associated with a convective cloud during the flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/5/2010
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Bradley
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60915
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 410847N
Event Location Longitude 0875133W
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 1911 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID PIA
Elevation of weather observation facility 660
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 90
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.78
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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 30
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27980
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 Feb 1 2011 2:55PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N437XJ
NTSB Number CEN10LA218
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-SCANIA
Aircraft Model SAAB 340B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 340B437
Certified Max Gross Weight 29000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 3
Cabin Crew Seats 1
Passenger Seats 34
Total number of seats on the aircraft 38
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAMBERT LEASING INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 21300 RIDGETOP CIR
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 --
Operator City Eagan
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55123
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 MALA007A
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 DTW
Departure City Detroit
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1827
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PIA
Destination City Peoria
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 1 2010 2:23PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
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 --