Airbus A320-232 N606JB

Summary

On 10 July 2009 at about 20:08 local time, a Airbus A320-232 registered N606JB, operated by Jetblue Airways Corp, was involved in an accident near Fort Myers, Florida, United States. 153 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 July 2009 at 20:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Myers, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Southwest Florida Internationa (RSW)

Coordinates

26.5361, -81.7553

Aircraft

Airbus A320-232

Registration

N606JB

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Jetblue Airways Corp

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New York → Fort Myers

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA396

2 people were seriously injured.

An inadvertent in-flight encounter with turbulence during approach. Contributing to the accident was the passengers' failure to follow the instructions of the illuminated seatbelt sign.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was descending through 12,500 feet on approach to the airport. The airplane was jolted as it flew through a small cumulus cloud. Specifically, the airplane dropped about 20 feet instantaneously, experiencing a positive g-load of 1.98, followed by a negative g-load of -0.43, less than 1 second later. During that time, a seated passenger did not have her seatbelt fastened. She fell forward into the stowed tray table in front of her, fracturing two ribs. A second passenger was in an aft lavatory and suffered two spinal fractures. The captain had made a passenger announcement during initial descent and prior to the turbulence encounter, emphasizing the need for passengers to take their seats and fasten their seatbelts when the seatbelt sign was illuminated. Additionally, a flight attendant made a public announcement when the seatbelt sign was illuminated. The seatbelt sign had been illuminated since 19,000 feet (about 4 minutes prior) and the airplane was not flying through any precipitation. The captain had also instructed the flight attendants via intercom to sit down a few minutes prior to the turbulence encounter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.