Boeing 737-300 N328AW

Summary

On 14 December 1998 at about 02:40 local time, a Boeing 737-300 registered N328AW, operated by America West Airlines, Inc., was involved in an accident near Sacramento, California, United States. 75 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 December 1998 at 02:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Sacramento, California, United States

Coordinates

38.5797, -121.4895

Aircraft

Boeing 737-300

Registration

N328AW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

America West Airlines, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Santa Ana → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX99LA050

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of the second and third flight attendants to comply with instructions to remain seated in anticipation of turbulence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to descent from cruise, the cockpit crew advised the second flight attendant, who was later injured, and the third flight attendant by intercom that turbulence was anticipated during descent for landing and for them to secure the cabin and be seated. The second attendant notified the first attendant who directed her attention toward securing first class. The second flight attendant proceeded through the cabin from front to rear, with a trash bag, picking up service items and ensuring that passenger's seat belts were fastened. As she reached the rear of the cabin, turbulence was encountered and both she and the third flight attendant, who was working in the rear galley, took their seats and fastened their seat belts. After 1 or 2 minutes of moderate turbulence, the turbulence ceased and the second and third flight attendants got up to finish their work in the aft galley. Additional turbulence was then encountered which caused the second flight attendant to fall to the floor of the galley. The third flight attendant also fell but landed on the foot of the second attendant, which broke the second attendant's ankle. The fight data recorder output showed that, at one point in the descent, vertical acceleration values varied from 0.65 g's to 2.02 g's over a 1-second period.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.