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December 18, 2017 · Embraer S A ERJ170-200LR 200LR · N128SY

Saint Louis, MO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 18, 2017
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 56 uninjured
Location
Saint Louis, MO
Aircraft
Embraer S A ERJ170-200LR 200LR (2014)
Tail Number
N128SY
Operator
Skywest Airlines
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
DCA18CA049

On December 17, 2017, about 2345 central standard time, SkyWest flight 5788, an Embraer ERJ700, N128SY, experienced a sudden pitch correction during descent into St. Louis International Airport (STL), St Louis, Missouri. Of the 57 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured. The airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to STL. According to the flight crew, the captain was the pilot monitoring and the first officer (FO) was the pilot flying and was on his second day of initial operating experience (IOE). The air was smooth with no turbulence. Air traffic control requested the flight give its "best forward speed" and cleared it direct to the airport. The crew discussed and planned the descent and after entering the data into the flight management system (FMS), noticed they were past the top of descent point for the 3-degree descent path they had entered. As a result, the captain had the FO select flight level change and the descent rate briefly exceeded 5,000 feet/minute and the airspeed increased. To prevent an overspeed condition, the captain instructed the FO to deploy the speed brakes, but the speed continued to increase, so the captain disconnected the autopilot and pitched the nose up. At the time of the unexpected pitch input, the rear flight attendant (FA) was preparing the galley for landing and was thrown off-balance onto the floor, causing her to twist her ankle. Medically qualified passengers assisted the FA until landing. After landing, the FA was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with an ankle fracture.

NTSB Probable Cause

the abrupt pitch up maneuver which caused the flight attendant to lose her balance and injure her ankle.

Full Narrative

On December 17, 2017, about 2345 central standard time, SkyWest flight 5788, an Embraer ERJ700, N128SY, experienced a sudden pitch correction during descent into St. Louis International Airport (STL), St Louis, Missouri. Of the 57 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured. The airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to STL. According to the flight crew, the captain was the pilot monitoring and the first officer (FO) was the pilot flying and was on his second day of initial operating experience (IOE). The air was smooth with no turbulence. Air traffic control requested the flight give its "best forward speed" and cleared it direct to the airport. The crew discussed and planned the descent and after entering the data into the flight management system (FMS), noticed they were past the top of descent point for the 3-degree descent path they had entered. As a result, the captain had the FO select flight level change and the descent rate briefly exceeded 5,000 feet/minute and the airspeed increased. To prevent an overspeed condition, the captain instructed the FO to deploy the speed brakes, but the speed continued to increase, so the captain disconnected the autopilot and pitched the nose up. At the time of the unexpected pitch input, the rear flight attendant (FA) was preparing the galley for landing and was thrown off-balance onto the floor, causing her to twist her ankle. Medically qualified passengers assisted the FA until landing. After landing, the FA was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with an ankle fracture.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time23:45 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftEmbraer S A ERJ170-200LR 200LR
Tail NumberN128SY
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorSkywest Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGe · CF34-8E5 · Turbofan | Ge · CF34-8E5 · Turbofan

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 56 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured56
Total57
Crew 1Age 47 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 24 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightNight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point-54 / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data