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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

November 20, 1991 · Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 · N235RM

Chicago, IL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
November 20, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 21 uninjured
Location
Chicago, IL
Aircraft
Aerospatiale ATR-42-300
Tail Number
N235RM
Operator
Simmons Airlines
Injuries
Minor
NTSB Number
CHI92IA030

THE INCIDENT AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED VORTEX TURBULENCE WHILE FOLLOWING RADAR VECTORS FOR LANDING SEQUENCE. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT DAMAGED. A FLIGHT ATTENDANT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES DURING THE ENCOUNTER. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING IN A TERMINAL CONTROL AREA UNDER POSITIVE RADAR CONTROL. FAA RECORDS AND RADAR TRACK DATA SHOW A LIKE CATEGORY AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 NAUTICAL MILES IN FRONT OF THE INCIDENT AIRPLANE WHEN IT DESCENDED TO AND MAINTAINED THE SAME ALTITUDE AS THE INCIDENT AIRPLANE. THE INCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS PROCEEDING ALONG APPROXIMATELY THE SAME GROUND TRACK AS THE LEAD AIRPLANE AND ENCOUNTERED THE TURBULENCE NEAR THE POINT THE LEAD AIRPLANE LEVELED AT THE SAME ALTITUDE. AT THE TIME OF THE ENCOUNTER THE LATERAL SEPARATION OF THE TWO AIRPLANES WAS 4.6 NAUTICAL MILES. THE MINIMUM ATC SEPARATION IN A RADAR ENVIRONMENT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ARE WITHIN 40 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE RADAR ANTENNA IS THREE NAUTICAL MILES.

NTSB Probable Cause

AN INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.

Full Narrative

THE INCIDENT AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED VORTEX TURBULENCE WHILE FOLLOWING RADAR VECTORS FOR LANDING SEQUENCE. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT DAMAGED. A FLIGHT ATTENDANT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES DURING THE ENCOUNTER. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING IN A TERMINAL CONTROL AREA UNDER POSITIVE RADAR CONTROL. FAA RECORDS AND RADAR TRACK DATA SHOW A LIKE CATEGORY AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 NAUTICAL MILES IN FRONT OF THE INCIDENT AIRPLANE WHEN IT DESCENDED TO AND MAINTAINED THE SAME ALTITUDE AS THE INCIDENT AIRPLANE. THE INCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS PROCEEDING ALONG APPROXIMATELY THE SAME GROUND TRACK AS THE LEAD AIRPLANE AND ENCOUNTERED THE TURBULENCE NEAR THE POINT THE LEAD AIRPLANE LEVELED AT THE SAME ALTITUDE. AT THE TIME OF THE ENCOUNTER THE LATERAL SEPARATION OF THE TWO AIRPLANES WAS 4.6 NAUTICAL MILES. THE MINIMUM ATC SEPARATION IN A RADAR ENVIRONMENT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ARE WITHIN 40 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE RADAR ANTENNA IS THREE NAUTICAL MILES.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time13:43 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale ATR-42-300
Tail NumberN235RM
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorSimmons Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PW120 · Turboprop · 1800
Seats50

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 21 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured21
Total22
Crew 1Age 42 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 8 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 11000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data