Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

April 30, 2010 · Boeing 767 223 · N320AA

Fort Dodge, IA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 30, 2010
Injury Outcomes
6 injuries (1 serious injury, 5 minor injuries), 172 uninjured
Location
Fort Dodge, IA
Aircraft
Boeing 767 223
Tail Number
N320AA
Operator
American Airlines
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
CEN10LA240

The scheduled domestic passenger flight encountered turbulence while diverting around an area of convective activity. A flight attendant who was not seated sustained serious injuries and five others on board sustained minor injuries as a result of the turbulence encounter. Flight data recorder information showed that the airplane experienced a vertical acceleration from 0.5 and 2 g’s and an altitude change of 100 feet in each direction.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight crew's inadequate separation from convective activity that resulted in serious injury to an unrestrained flight attendant.

Full Narrative

On April 29, 2010, at 2140 central daylight time, a Boeing 767-223, N320AA, operated by American Airlines as flight 20, encountered turbulence during cruise flight near Fort Dodge (FOD), Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Of the 178 people aboard, 1 flight attendant sustained serious injuries, 2 flight attendants sustained minor injuries, and 3 passengers sustained minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight departed San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California, and was en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, New York. The flight diverted to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, and landed without further incident. The captain stated that the seat belt sign was on for about 20 minutes, and the flight attendants were instructed to secure the cabin and to take a seat 10-15 minutes prior to when they encountered moderate turbulence. The turbulence lasted for 3-5 seconds in the area of FOD while deviating upwind around and over a build-up. The first officer reported that the seatbelt sign was on and had been on for “some” time. There had been light chop but no reports of moderate chop or turbulence. They encountered moderate turbulence when they were on an upwind vector around a thunderstorm. After the turbulence encounter, the first officer received a report that one flight attendant injured her ankle and another flight attendant injured his hip. The number three flight attendant was standing aft looking into the main cabin after food service had just been completed when the airplane banked to the left and threw the flight attendants off balance. There was a sound during the roll of either wind or an engine. The airplane then seemed to move back to the right, but dropped while completing its level off. The number eight flight attendant, who was standing next to the number three flight attendant, hit the ceiling and then the floor with another flight attendant. The number three flight attendant thought she fractured her foot when she landed on the number eight flight attendant. According to the flight data recording for the flight, the airplane was at an altitude of approximately 41,000 feet at an airspeed of approximately 232 knots with the autopilot engaged. At the time of the event, the vertical accelerations fluctuated between -0.5 and 2 g’s, the longitudinal accelerations were between -0.1 and 0.1 g’s, and the lateral accelerations spiked as high as 0.2 g’s and as low as -0.1 g’s. The airplane rose and fell approximately 100 feet in each direction and the airplane rolled as far right as 20 degrees. There was no sudden change in wind direction or air pressure before the event. During the event, total air pressure spiked up to 300 mb from 270 mb. Wind direction changed to approximately 20 degrees further left during the event, but that can be accounted for by aircraft heading, which changed 20 degrees to the right before the event. The cockpit voice recorder was reported as not having been deactivated following the accident and no recording for the accident flight was available to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:40 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 767 223
Tail NumberN320AA
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorAmerican Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGeneral Electric · CF6/80A · Turbofan · 61500
Seats167

People & Injuries

Injury Summary6 injuries (1 serious injury, 5 minor injuries), 172 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor5
Uninjured172
Total178
Crew 1Age 54 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 54 · First Class · None

Conditions

LightNight
Wind150° @ 11 kt, gusting 17 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingOvercast 500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 54
Altimeter29.97 inHg
Observation Time02:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data