Airbus Industrie A320-211 accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 29, 2002
On November 29, 2002 at about 3:25 am local time, a Airbus Industrie A320-211, registered N324US, was involved in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 42 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The cabin flight crew not verifying the galley service cart had been properly stowed prior to departure, which resulted in the inadvertent deployment of the galley service cart during initial climb after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 2002 · about 3:25 am local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 42 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Industrie A320-211 · all A320-211s on the register
- Registration
- N324US · no longer on the register · serial 273
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A flight attendant was seriously injured when struck by a galley service cart during initial climb after takeoff. According to company personnel, the galley service cart was not secured properly prior to departure and became detached from the forward galley during climb out. The galley service cart traveled down the center aisle and struck a flight attendant in the aft galley, fracturing his ankle. No anomalies were found with the galley service cart or the galley in which it was stationed prior to takeoff. All restraint levers were intact and functioned as designed.
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: 10,257 hours in all; 1,942 in this make and model; 178 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days; 6,472 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 16, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,617 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 21, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 35,133 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 13, 2002; 2,499 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 166,478 lb
- Seats: 179
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm International CFM56-5-A1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm International CFM56-5-A1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSP Minneapolis MN at 3:06 am
- Destination: SMF Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from MSP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 38 |
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.