Airbus A319 115 accident near Grand Cayman Island (Gcm), Ky, August 3, 2016
On August 3, 2016 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 2013 Airbus A319 115, registered N9010R, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Grand Cayman Island (Gcm). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 7 people had minor injuries; 121 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2016 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Cayman Island (Gcm), Cayman Islands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 7 people had minor injuries; 121 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A319 115 115, built 2013 · all A319 115s on the register
- Registration
- N9010R · registry record · serial 5789
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 3, 2016 at 7:45 pm eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 1007, an Airbus A319, N9010R, encountered clear air turbulence on descent to the Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM), George Town, Cayman Islands. As a result of the turbulence, one passenger received serious injuries and four passengers and three flight attendants received minor injuries. None of the other passengers and crew were injured and the airplane was not damaged. The operator reported that while over international waters, the flight experienced moderate to severe turbulence for approximately 6-8 seconds while descending through FL180 into GCM. Both the autopilot and weather radar were on and operating at the time. The flight was in visual meteorological conditions and the crew had no warning of turbulence. The seat belt sign was on and had been on for approximately 10 minutes before the turbulence event occurred. The flight landed safely without further incident. The injured passenger was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a fractured vertebra.
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
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,056 hours in all; 1,007 in this make and model; 961 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 28, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Flight time: 537 hours in all; 65 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 7, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 166,449 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-5B6; 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-5B6; 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: Grand Cayman Island (Gcm) CB at 11:56 pm
- Destination: GCM Grand Cayman Island
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 100° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 | 118 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on January 24, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N9010R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.