Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL97LA075

Aircraft #1

N768DL

Lockheed L-1011-385-3

Analysis

While in cruise during the international flight, a flight attendant stepped on a salt shaker, breaking her left ankle and cutting her finger. She was in the first class galley at the time of the accident. The flight was at 35,000 feet, and there was no reported turbulence. First aid was administered by the second officer, followed by medical treatment at the destination.

Factual Information

On May 26, 1997, at 0505 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), N768DL, a Lockheed L-1011-385-3, was enroute, from Atlanta to Amsterdam, Netherlands, when a flight attendant was seriously injured during the cruise phase of flight. The Delta Air Lines, scheduled, international, passenger flight, was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121, with an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. One flight attendant was seriously injured, and the airline transport pilot, first officer, flight engineer, nine flight attendants, and 211 passengers sustained no injuries. The flight departed Atlanta at 2127 eastern daylight time (0127 GMT). The flight was near Benbecula, a navaid on an island off the coast of Scotland, when the accident occurred. There was no report of turbulence. The sky was clear and the air was smooth. There were no mechanical problems reported with the aircraft. The A-Line flight attendant advised the Captain that one of the flight attendants had stepped on a salt shaker, in the First Class Galley, breaking her left ankle and cutting one of her fingers. The second officer administered First Aid. Paramedics met the flight at the destination.

Probable Cause and Findings

The failure of the flight attendants to maintain control of loose cabin service equipment, a salt shaker, that resulted in an uncorrected tripping hazard.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports