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January 16, 2003 · Dassault Aviation Falcon 900EX · N11WM

PO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 16, 2003
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 5 uninjured
Location
PO
Aircraft
Dassault Aviation Falcon 900EX
Tail Number
N11WM
Operator
Pistol Creek Financial
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
SEA03LA029

The Dassault Aviation Falcon 900EX, crewed by two airline transport rated pilots, and accompanied by four passengers, had departed Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, en route to Honolulu International airport, Honolulu, Hawaii. The aircraft climbed to FL 340 and was then cleared to FL 360 as it progressed along airway A332. As the flight proceeded, it encountered intermittent light to occasionally moderate turbulence and the crew made repeated requests for a higher altitude through Air Traffic Control, but the requests were not approved. A little more than half way into the flight, the aircraft's track began to converge obliquely with a cold frontal system extending southwest through the Hawaiian Islands, and the aircraft encountered headwinds of more than 100 knots approximately 30 degrees right of the aircraft's track. Approximately 4 hours 17 minutes into the flight, the aircraft was operating in the tops of clouds with good visibility when a passenger and her attendant left their seats to use the lavatory located in the rear of the aircraft. During this time the aircraft encountered moderate turbulence for a period of ten seconds or less and the attendant sustained a fractured ankle. Immediately following the event the crew requested and received approval for a climb to FL 370.

NTSB Probable Cause

The aircraft's encounter with moderate turbulence in cruise.

Full Narrative

On January 15, 2003, approximately 1643 Pacific standard time, a Dassault Aviation Falcon 900EX, N11WM, registered to AZAAIR LLC, operated by Pistol Creek Aviation, and crewed by two airline transport rated pilots, encountered moderate turbulence while in cruise at Flight Level (FL) 360, slightly west of HERZO intersection on airway A332 while over the Pacific Ocean en route to Honolulu, Hawaii. The two pilots and three of the four passengers were uninjured, however a fourth passenger, an attendant for one of the other passengers, sustained a broken ankle. The aircraft sustained no damage during the event. The meteorological conditions at the time/altitude of the accident were reported as visual and an IFR flight plan had been filed and activated. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14 CFR 91, and had originated from Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, departing at 1226 on the same day. After departure, the aircraft climbed to FL 340 and thereafter, the crew requested FL 360, which was approved. As the flight progressed along airway A332 at FL 360 it encountered intermittent light to occasionally moderate turbulence. A little more than half way into the flight the aircraft's track began to converge obliquely with a cold frontal system extending southwest through the Hawaiian Islands (refer to Attachment FP-I). The crew made repeated requests for a higher altitude through San Francisco Radio but the requests were not approved. Approximately 45 nautical miles south southwest of HERZO (intersection) on A332, the aircraft encountered moderate turbulence for a period of ten seconds or less. The aircraft was operating at FL 360 at the time and had been airborne for approximately 4 hours 17 minutes. The winds aloft chart for FL 340 provided to the crew by Universal Weather showed headwinds of more than 100 knots approximately 30 degrees right of the aircraft's track (refer to Attachment FP-I). The Captain reported that at the time of the turbulence encounter, the aircraft was operating "...right in the tops of clouds with good visibility..." and that "...two of our passengers left their seats to use the lavatory located in the rear of the aircraft..." (the injured passenger was an attendant assisting the non-injured passenger). Following the injury, which was brought to the attention of the crew by a passenger, a request for higher altitude was again requested and then a climb to FL 370 was approved. The aircraft landed uneventfully at Honolulu and the attendant's ankle was x-rayed revealing a fracture condition.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time00:43 UTC
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDassault Aviation Falcon 900EX
Tail NumberN11WM
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorPistol Creek Financial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsHoneywell (Garrett) · TFE 731-60-1C · Turbofan · 5000 | Honeywell (Garrett) · TFE 731-60-1C · Turbofan · 5000 | Honeywell (Garrett) · TFE 731-60-1C · Turbofan · 5000

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 5 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total6
Crew 1Age 51 · Second Class · None
Crew 2None
Crew 3Age 39 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind235° @ 127 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point-67 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data