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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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September 18, 1987 · Boeing 737 · N318AU

Philadelphia, PA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 18, 1987
Injury Outcomes
7 injuries (1 serious injury, 6 minor injuries), 74 uninjured
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Aircraft
Boeing 737
Tail Number
N318AU
Operator
Usair
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
NYC87FA260

THE ACFT WAS IN A HOLDING PATTERN AT 11,000' IN AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS & TURBULENCE. ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ON, TWO PASSENGERS (PAX) WENT TO THE AFT LAVATORY. AS ONE OF THE PAX WAS WAITING & THE OTHER WAS EXITING THE LAVATORY, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. THE FLT ATTENDANTS (F/A'S) TOLD THE PAX TO BE SEATED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME & THE PAX WAS THROWN AGAINST THE EXTENDED LEG OF A F/A, WHO WAS BRACING HERSELF IN A F/A SEAT. THE F/A SUFFERED A BROKEN LEG. ANOTHER F/A & 5 PAX RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS IN A HOLDING PATTERN AT 11,000' IN AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS & TURBULENCE. ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ON, TWO PASSENGERS (PAX) WENT TO THE AFT LAVATORY. AS ONE OF THE PAX WAS WAITING & THE OTHER WAS EXITING THE LAVATORY, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. THE FLT ATTENDANTS (F/A'S) TOLD THE PAX TO BE SEATED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME & THE PAX WAS THROWN AGAINST THE EXTENDED LEG OF A F/A, WHO WAS BRACING HERSELF IN A F/A SEAT. THE F/A SUFFERED A BROKEN LEG. ANOTHER F/A & 5 PAX RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:13 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 737
Tail NumberN318AU
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorUsair
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-15A · Turbofan · 15500

People & Injuries

Injury Summary7 injuries (1 serious injury, 6 minor injuries), 74 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor6
Uninjured74
Total81
Crew 1Age 46 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind30° @ 17 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 700 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 61 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:21
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data