Airbus A320 N632NK accident near Las Vegas, Nevada

Probable cause

The airplane’s encounter with severe turbulence.

NTSB analysis

On December 1, 2018, about 1804 Pacific standard time, Spirit Airlines flight 1069, an Airbus A320-232, N632NK, encountered turbulence during initial descent into Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (KLAS), Las Vegas, Nevada. Of the 163 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled international passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (KCLE) to KLAS.

The captain was the pilot flying, and the first officer was the pilot monitoring. According to the flight crew, there was reports of moderate turbulence during the initial descent. During the decent, the flight passed through stratiform cloud layers experiencing continuous light and occasional moderate chop, but no precipitation was depicted on the weather radar. At about flight level (FL) 260, the first officer turned on the seatbelt sign and contacted the lead flight attendant (FA) to have all the FAs take their seats.

As the airplane descended through about FL230, the flight experienced moderate turbulence which lasted for about 15-20 seconds. Shortly thereafter, the flight crew received a call from the lead FA that a FA had broken her ankle.

At the time of the turbulence encounter, the FAs were preparing the cabin for landing. Two FAs were in the aft galley and were thrown into the air and onto the floor. One FA severely injured her left ankle and was subsequently helped into an aft passenger seat, where she remained for landing. After landing, emergency medical personnel met the flight at the gate and transported the injured FA to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured left fibula.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA19CA037 for the full record.