Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82) accident near Chicago, Illinois, April 17, 2010
On April 17, 2010 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82), registered N461AA, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Chicago, Illinois. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 83 others were unhurt.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight attendant's loss of balance resulting in a fall and a broken wrist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2010 · about 2:00 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 83 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82) · all DC-9-82(MD-82)s on the register
- Registration
- N461AA · registry record · serial 49566
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight attendant, as she turned to walk to the galley, she tripped and fell, landing on her left hand. It was later found that she had fractured her wrist. There was no damage to the airplane and no injuries to the other crew or passengers on the flight.
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
What happened, in order
- Cabin safety event during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › (general) › (general) › Cabin crew
Crew member
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 172
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P & W JT8D SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P & W JT8D SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: AUS Austin TX at 1:20 pm
- Destination: ORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 2 | ||
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 78 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N461AA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9 93 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mcdonnell Douglas 254 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P & W JT8D SERIES 82 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P & W JT8D SERIES 82 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Austin-Bergstrom International · departed from
- Chicago O'Hare International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Illinois 2,118 since 1982 · 251 in the last ten years
- Illinois 8,070 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN10LA220.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.