Probable cause
The passengers' failure to comply with the fasten seatbelt sign, with resulted in their injury during an inflight turbulence encounter.
NTSB analysis
During their descent for arrival, the flight crew of the business jet illuminated the fasten seatbelt sign. They cycled the seatbelt sign again when the airplane began encountering light turbulence. After deviating left of some adverse weather that was displayed on radar, they continued their descent and encountered moderate turbulence and heavy rain, during which the airplane dropped about 500 to 1,000 ft. Despite the flight crew having warned the passengers by cycling the seatbelt sign during their descent from cruise altitude, three of the five passengers were not wearing seatbelts during the turbulence encounter. One of the unbelted passengers was seriously injured, while the other two incurred minor injuries. The flight subsequently landed without further incident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA18LA112 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 21, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Miami, Florida
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Minor injuries
- 2
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC)
- Light
- Night
Gulfstream Aerospace G V
- N-number
- N90JE
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1998
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Business
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.