Airbus A319 accident near Denver, Colorado, October 12, 2018
On October 12, 2018 at about 3:16 pm local time, a 2004 Airbus A319, registered N926FR, was involved in an accident during initial climb near Denver, Colorado. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 22 others were unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence resulting in a flight attendant receiving serious injuries.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2018 · about 3:16 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 22 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Airbus A319 111, built 2004 · all A319s on the register
- Registration
- N926FR · no longer on the register · serial 2198
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 12, 2018, about 0916 MDT, Frontier Airlines flight 190, an Airbus A319, N926FR, encountered turbulence while climbing through 24,000 feet after departure from Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado. Of the 24 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant received serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from DEN to Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Austin, Texas. According to the flight crew, the flight encountered only intermittent light turbulence during the initial climb. However, as the airplane was climbing through flight level 240, they encountered continuous moderate turbulence. The airplane began to accelerate rapidly so the captain disconnected the autopilot and increased the climb. There was no convective activity in the area and no reports of any turbulence from other airplanes. At the time of the turbulence encounter, two flight attendance in the aft gally were preparing for cabin service. Initially, the turbulence was light, however, when flight attendants felt the intensity increasing, they moved to get into their jump seats. Before they could get in their seats, they were both thrown into the air and then onto the floor. One flight attendant injured her ankle and the other injured her knee. The captain called back to the cabin and was told that one of the flight attendants was seriously injured. He declared a medical emergency and requested paramedics meet the flight on arrival. After landing, one flight attendant was transported to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken ankle.
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 initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Awareness of condition
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,368 hours in all; 3,368 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 3, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 625 hours in all; 625 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 28, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 697,614 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 1, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 155,200 lb
- Seats: 150
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 47,637 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 73,829 hours total
- Operator: Frontier Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Denver CO
- Destination: AUS Austin TX
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 19 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 6, 2022. 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 |
| 2 | Crew Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.