Aerospatiale ATR-72-212 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, March 1, 2003
On March 1, 2003 at about 11:30 am local time, a Aerospatiale ATR-72-212, registered N642AS, was involved in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (The William B Hartsfield Atlan). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 15 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight's encounter with severe turbulence that resulted in serious injury to a flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2003 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · The William B Hartsfield Atlan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 15 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale ATR-72-212 · all ATR-72-212s on the register
- Registration
- N642AS · registry record · serial 395
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the captain, during cruise flight at 17,000 feet the airplane encountered turbulence. The area of turbulence was not forcasted. During the encounter the seat belt sign was illuminated. The cabin attendants informed the captain the passengers were uninjured and a flight attendant had received minor injuries. After landing the paramedics boarded the airplane, and examined the attendants.The flight attendant was transported to the emergency room where it was determined that one fight attendant had a broken femur.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,641 hours in all; 4,076 in this make and model; 222 in the last 90 days; 82 in the last 30 days; 3,845 as pilot in command; 458 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19,588 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 25, 2003; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 48,501 lb
- Seats: 70
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW127 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW127 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VPS Valparaiso FL at 10:50 am
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; ovct
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from ATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 3 | ||
| Passengers | 12 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.