Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 accident near Romulus, Michigan, November 30, 2001
On November 30, 2001 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82, registered N488AA, was involved in an accident near Romulus, Michigan. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 89 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The turbulence encountered in-flight and the passenger not complying with the flight and cabin crew’s warning of the turbulance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 2001 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Romulus, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 89 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 · all DC-9-82s on the register
- Registration
- N488AA · registry record · serial 49681
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A passenger sustained a serious in-flight injury when the flight encountered turbulence. The passenger stated, "When I got up to go to bathroom there was no warning of any turbulence, there was no seat belt sign. Outside weather, lighting conditions I recall as normal. ... I do not recall any voice announcement of turbulence while I was in the toilet. ... As I was coming out, may be two feet from the entrance of the toilet I was thrown up-down a number of times. I tried to sit or catch the seats in vain. I saw two flight attendants seated and every attempt I made to catch something was failed. It was extremely severe turbulence. ... I fell on the ground. I saw my rt ankle is completely dislocated." The Captain stated, "Seatbelt sign was on from beginning of flight due to light chop. Ride began to deteriorate at [Flight Level] FL280 so we descended to FL240. Ride was still light chop until a point past [London VOR] YXU30 on [Jet airway] J36. We encountered a pocket of severe turb[ulence]. Immediately requested descent to FL200. After receiving clearance to descend ride smoothed out passing FK200. Flight attendants called up on the interphone and reported a man who was exiting aft lav as we hit the turb had injured his foot. Flight attendants reported to captain that foot was possibly broken. Crew notified [Air Traffic Control] ATC of medical emergency and requested landing at DTW and for medical assistance to meet aircraft. ... Uneventful landing was made. Paramedics came up aft airstair at the gate and assisted injured passenger." A flight attendant stated, "Then [the], (passenger) got up and came to the back. I told him that 'the seat belt sign was on and that he should be in his seat with his seat belt on.' He continues to the RH bathroom. [The #4 flight attendant] got up and a PA from the aft PA. She told the passengers that, 'the seat belt sign was on and they should remain in their seat with their seat belts on.' She then returned to row 30 seat F. About 1-2 minutes after her PA the passenger ... came out of the lav. It was bumpier then so I told him to take a seat. Right now in row 30-seat D. As he started in for row 30 we hit severe turbulence."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 680 in this make and model; 2,700 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 27, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 38,867 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 29, 2001; 4,325 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 150,500 lb
- Seats: 137
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGA New York NY at 4:02 pm
- Destination: ORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 22 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 4:26 pm from DTW, 100 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 84 |
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.