YAKUTAT, AK, USA
N775AS
Boeing 737-400
The flight was cruising at FL350 over mountainous terrain with elevations of up to 15,300 feet, when severe turbulence was encountered. Two flight attendants, who were in the rear of the airplane pushing a beverage cart, received serious injuries when they collided with the ceiling and the floor. They described the turbulence as two large waves or jolts. In the cockpit, the flight crew described the turbulence as 'a good, solid moderate.' The fasten seat belt sign was illuminated at the time the turbulence was encountered. The flight had encountered light and occasional moderate turbulence during the climb to cruising altitude, and other flights had reported turbulence along the intended route of flight. The flight crew reportedly conferred with the lead flight attendant prior to beginning meal service, and they elected to begin the service because the turbulence had diminished to 'light chop.'
On December 22, 1996, about 1912 Alaska standard time, a Boeing 737-400 airplane, operated under 14 CFR Part 121 by Alaska Airlines as Flight 67, encountered severe turbulence while cruising in visual meteorological flight conditions at Flight Level 350, approximately 30 miles east of Yakutat, Alaska. The airplane was not damaged. The two flight crew members and 37 passengers aboard reported no injuries. All of the three flight attendants aboard were injured. One flight attendant received minor injuries, two flight attendants received serious injuries and were hospitalized. The flight was en route to Anchorage, Alaska, at the time of accident, and the flight continued to Anchorage. The flight departed Juneau, Alaska, about 1820. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the Captain related the flight had experienced light to moderate turbulence while on the approach to land at Juneau, on the Sitka-Juneau leg preceding the accident flight. He said he spoke with the lead flight attendant, and decided they would delay the meal service after departing Juneau until reaching cruising altitude and evaluating the level of turbulence. After reaching the cruising altitude of Flight Level 350, the Captain said he again conferred with the lead Flight Attendant, and since the level of turbulence was viewed as "light chop", it was decided to begin the service. The Captain also noted he requested "ride reports" from the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) prior to the meal service, and was advised of light turbulence reported by preceding flights. The Captain said the turbulence suddenly increased from light to moderate, as felt in the cockpit, when the airplane was over Mount Fairweather (a 15,300' mountain). The Captain characterized the turbulence as a fairly rapid pitching up and down of the nose of the airplane, and later reported it to the Anchorage ARTCC as a "good, solid moderate." The fasten seat belt sign was illuminated at the time of the turbulence encounter, and had been so since takeoff. The "A", or Lead Flight Attendant, submitted a statement which says, in part: "About 15 minutes out of JNU, the Capt. came on the PA and informed us that it would probably be bumpy from JNU-ANC. I was just leaving the flight deck (FD) with their meal when all of a sudden a giant jolt, or wave, occurred. I hit my head either on the lav. door or FA bulkhead. Slammed FD door shut and took my jump seat." The lead Flight Attendant waited a few minutes until she felt she was able to walk to the rear of the airplane to check on the passengers and two other flight attendants. She found no injured passengers, but discovered that the other two flight attendants were injured. One flight attendant (Larzalere) was sitting/lying on the aft flight attendant's jump seat, the other (Nielson) was lying on the floor, between the two aft lavatories. The lead flight attendant, two passengers, and an off duty company pilot assisted the lead flight attendant in providing first aid and comfort to the injured flight attendants. The injured flight attendants were interviewed by the NTSB IIC. They related essentially the same information: They were in the rear of the airplane, wheeling out the beverage service cart, when two, massive jolts, or waves, slammed them into the ceiling and floor. Neither recalled any precursors to the severe turbulence. Flight attendant Larzalere reported she had a fractured pelvis and elbow; flight attendant Nielson reported a fractured vertebrae in her back. A review of the air traffic control communication transcripts provided by the FAA disclosed the flight crew was experiencing turbulence en route and communicated with ARTCC requesting ride reports from preceding aircraft. At 1858, the flight crew radioed: "Anchorage Center, Alaska sixty-seven ah getting ah continuos light in the climb occasional moderate and ah wonder what the ride reports are heading over towards Anchorage." Anchorage Center responded: "...company just came over from Yakutat at ah twenty-nine he didn't give me any reports so I'm not sure what he got south of the route around Laire south of Yakutat and Laire area company just went westbound and he got continuos at both thirty-one and thirty-five." At 1904, the flight crew reported they were over Yakutat, and noted the turbulence was better now that they were away from the hills, and classified the turbulence as "continuos light chop." At 1912, the flight crew reported: "yeah just going over Mount Fairweather there got a ah we'll call it a a good solid moderate turbulence." Anchorage Center responded: "...I assume it's stopped now." The flight crew responded: "well lets see for the time being it came up pretty quick and ah and ah it's we'll call continuos light for now but ah we'll keep you advised if we get into some more of that moderate but it was ah a good solid moderate." At 1920, the flight crew reported to Anchorage Center that they had encountered moderate turbulence, and again requested ride reports and indicated they had two injured flight attendants on board. Additional communications between the flight crew and Anchorage Center is contained in the attached FAA Air Traffic Control Accident Package transcripts. Weather at the time of the accident was characterized by the flight crew as clear, and the turbulence was referred to as clear air turbulence. A review of the weather data provided to the flight crew at the time of dispatch indicated the presence of low level winds in excess of 30 knots, and the potential for associated moderate to severe turbulence within 2000 feet of terrain. Company dispatch weather, and weather reports issued by the FAA (attached) disclosed no SIGMETS or pilot reports pertinent to the route of flight. A SIGMET is defined, in part, by the FAA's Airman's Information Manual (AIM) as: " A weather advisory issued concerning weather significant to the safety of all aircraft. SIGMET advisories cover severe and extreme turbulence... ." The AIM defines moderate turbulence as: "(Reaction Inside Aircraft) Occupants feel definite strains against seat belts or shoulder straps. Unsecured objects are dislodged. Food service and walking are difficult." Severe turbulence is defined: "(Reaction Inside Aircraft) Occupants are forced violently against seat belts or shoulder straps. Unsecured objects are tossed about. Food service and walking are impossible." The Operator, Alaska Airlines, has similar definitions of turbulence contained in its Flight Attendant and Flight Operations manuals. The Flight Attendant Manual notes that turbulence severity may vary greatly between the flight deck and the cabin. The Flight Operations Manual notes that, when possible, prior to encountering either moderate or severe turbulence, all cabin crew members should have their seat belts fastened. As a result of this accident, company safety officials at Alaska Airlines have requested that severe turbulence forecasting data generated by another air carrier be shared with Alaska Airlines. This data will reportedly more accurately predict mountain waves and areas of severe turbulence.
an in-flight encounter with unforecast severe clear air turbulence.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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