Airbus A320 accident near Charlottesville, Virginia, August 8, 2019
On August 8, 2019 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2000 Airbus A320, registered N505JB, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Charlottesville, Virginia. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 154 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 8, 2019 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Charlottesville, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 154 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320 232, built 2000 · all A320s on the register
- Registration
- N505JB · registry record · serial 1173
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 8, 2019, at 1630 eastern daylight time, JetBlue Airways flight 1973, an Airbus A320, registration N505JB, experienced turbulence during cruise that resulted in one passenger receiving a serious injury. There were no injuries to the other passengers and crew onboard, and the airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey to Tampa International Airport (TPA), Tampa Bay, Florida. The turbulence encounter occurred in visual meteorological conditions. According to the operator, while enroute in the vicinity of Charlottesville, VA, the flight crew initiated a climb from flight level (FL) 340 to FL380 due to reports of turbulence at the lower levels. During the climb, the aircraft encountered turbulence at FL350. The flight attendants (FA) stated they had just started beverage service when the turbulence began and had started to return to the galley to their jumpseats. The FA at position #3 stated the turbulence caused the beverage cart to shift, resulting in the hot liquid container toppling over onto a passenger in an aisle seat, causing burns to the passenger’s shoulder. First aid was provided to the passenger and Medlink was contacted. Emergency medical personnel met the flight upon arrival and the passenger was diagnosed with second degree burns.
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
- Clear air turbulence encounter during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,162 hours in all; 4,162 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,502 hours in all; 4,502 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 86,605 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 8, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 169,756 lb
- Seats: 158
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Iae V2527-AE (turbofan); 57,205 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae V2527-AE (turbofan); 27,993 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KEWR Newark NJ at 7:21 pm
- Destination: KTPA Tampa FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 149 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 28, 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 | Employee Statements - Cabin Crew | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Employee Statements - Flight Crew | PDF, 2 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.