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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 17, 1987 · Boeing 727-200 · N774AL

Pittsburgh, PA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 17, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 70 uninjured
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Aircraft
Boeing 727-200
Tail Number
N774AL
Operator
Usair
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
NYC87FA257

WHILE DESCENDING OUT OF FLT LVL 270 FOR LNDG, USAIR FLIGHT 10 ENCOUNTERED LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE. PRIOR TO THIS THIS ENCOUNTER, THE CAPT ADVISED ALL PASSENGERS AND CABIN CREW TO REMAIN SEATED AND TO ENGAGE THEIR SEATBELTS. A SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE BY THE CABIN ATTENDANTS. AN ELDERLY INVALID FEMALE PASSENGER STATED SHE HAD TO USE TO THE RESTROOM PRIOR TO LNDG SINCE HER WALKING DEVICE WAS BEING SHIPPED AND SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE FACILITIES AT THE ARPT. THE ATTENDANTS ATTEMPTED TO DISSUADE HER BUT SHE PREVAILED. TWO OF THEM HELPED HER TO HER FEET AND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSISTING HER DOWN THE ISLE WHEN THEY WERE ALL THROWN TO THE FLOOR BY INFLIGHT TURBULENCE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN BONES AND OTHER INJURIES. THE FLT WAS GIVEN SPECIAL HANDLING AND LNDD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

Full Narrative

WHILE DESCENDING OUT OF FLT LVL 270 FOR LNDG, USAIR FLIGHT 10 ENCOUNTERED LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE. PRIOR TO THIS THIS ENCOUNTER, THE CAPT ADVISED ALL PASSENGERS AND CABIN CREW TO REMAIN SEATED AND TO ENGAGE THEIR SEATBELTS. A SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE BY THE CABIN ATTENDANTS. AN ELDERLY INVALID FEMALE PASSENGER STATED SHE HAD TO USE TO THE RESTROOM PRIOR TO LNDG SINCE HER WALKING DEVICE WAS BEING SHIPPED AND SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE FACILITIES AT THE ARPT. THE ATTENDANTS ATTEMPTED TO DISSUADE HER BUT SHE PREVAILED. TWO OF THEM HELPED HER TO HER FEET AND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSISTING HER DOWN THE ISLE WHEN THEY WERE ALL THROWN TO THE FLOOR BY INFLIGHT TURBULENCE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN BONES AND OTHER INJURIES. THE FLT WAS GIVEN SPECIAL HANDLING AND LNDD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:40 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 727-200
Tail NumberN774AL
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorUsair
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-17A · Turbofan · 15500
Seats158

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 70 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured70
Total71
Crew 1Age 58 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time19:00
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data