| Status |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date | Thursday 16 September 1999 |
| Time | 21:47 LT |
| Type |
 Airbus A320-231 |
| Operator | America West Airlines |
| Registration | N628AW |
| MSN | 067 |
| Year of manufature | 1989 |
| Engines | IAEV2500-A1 |
| Crew | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Total occupants | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 139 |
| Aircraft damage | None |
| Location | Beatty, NV  United States of America
|
| Phase | En route |
| Nature | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure Airport | Seattle, WA (KSEA) |
| Destination Airport | Las Vegas, NV (KLAS) |
| Narrative | While descending toward the destination airport, the pilot was deviating around thunderstorms and using his airborne radar to identify severe cells. It was a dark night and he was unable to make visual contact with the severe weather. The captain turned on the seat belt sign 45 minutes before the accident due to 'light chop' that he had encountered earlier in the flight. He made a PA announcement in which he told the passengers to return to their seats and to fasten their seat belts. About 20 minutes prior to the accident, he directed the flight attendants to suspend service and to secure the cabin. Once again, he made a PA announcement advising passengers of the increased chance of turbulence during the remainder of the flight. The aircraft encountered turbulence that lasted a few seconds with one large 'bump' that was accompanied by a sudden altitude gain that lasted a couple of seconds. After the event, flight attendants reported injuries to several passengers. According to the flight attendants, one or more of the injured passengers were out of the seats at the time of the turbulence encounter. Probable Cause: the failure of the injured passengers to remain seated with their seat belts fastened as directed by the captain. |
-
WHO WE ARE
WHO WE ARE
Since 1945, Flight Safety Foundation has helped save lives around the world. The Foundation is an international non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide impartial, independent, expert safety guidance and resources for the aviation and aerospace industry.
LEARN MORE - WHAT WE DO
-
EDUCATION & EVENTS
EDUCATION & EVENTS
LEARN MORE - MEDIA
-
GET INVOLVED
GET INVOLVED
Thousands of people are alive today as a direct result of the work done by aviation safety professionals around the world.
LEARN MORE - CONTACT