Airbus 319-132 accident near Chicago, Illinois, August 21, 2021
On August 21, 2021 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Airbus 319-132, registered N806AW, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Chicago, Illinois. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 119 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An 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 21, 2021 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 119 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus 319-132
- Registration
- N806AW · registry record · serial 1056
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
American Airlines flight 2760 encountered turbulence while descending through 7,000 ft to land at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois, and a flight attendant fractured her kneecap. The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer was monitoring. The flight was in day visual meteorological conditions (VMC), and the weather radar was on, with no signs of convective activity ahead. The captain made the announcement to the cabin crew to prepare for landing and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. The flight crew stated that ATC informed them that between HIHRY and RINNO intersections there were reports of moderate turbulence. The captain called the No. 1 flight attendant to inform her that in five minutes there was the possibility of turbulence, “likely moderate chop”, and for her to inform the rest of the cabin crew. At 7000 ft the flight encountered about 2 to 3 brief moments of moderate turbulence, but the remainder of the flight was smooth. While taxiing to the gate the flight crew was informed that the No. 1 flight attendant, who had been walking through the aisle to prepare for landing, had fallen to her knees because of the turbulence. The flight attendant was taken to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured kneecap.
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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Awareness of condition
- 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: 28,100 hours in all; 7,865 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 3,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 14, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,143 hours in all; 3,784 in this make and model; 197 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 2, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: SAT San Antonio TX at 4:28 pm
- Destination: ORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 87°F (31°C), dew point 69°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 115 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 20, 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 - Flight Crew | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Employee Statements - Cabin Crew | PDF, 3 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.