Boeing 717-200 accident near Detroit, Michigan, August 29, 2022
On August 29, 2022 at about 4:43 pm local time, a 1999 Boeing 717-200, registered N946AT, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Detroit, Michigan. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 101 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with moderate turbulence during descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2022 · about 4:43 pm local time
- Place
- Detroit, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 101 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 717-200, built 1999 · all 717-200s on the register
- Registration
- N946AT · registry record · serial 55009
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A flight attendant (FA) was injured when the flight encountered turbulence during descent. According to the captain, he conducted a preflight briefing with the FA and advised of the possibility of light to moderate chop, mainly below 12,000 feet, during the descent into the Detroit area. During the initial descent, at approximately 20,000 feet, the aircraft encountered light turbulence with a few encounters of moderate turbulence for about a minute. The captain gave the final indication (two chimes) shortly afterward and then overheard the FA give the final public address (PA) over the intercom. The remainder of the descent was mainly smooth with a little light chop. Shortly after arriving at the gate and having completed the normal shutdown procedures, the FA came to the cockpit and indicated that she had been injured and requested that the captain report it. According to the FA, she was in the forward galley when the airplane encountered turbulence; she impacted the left side of her body on the galley counter. She indicated that she took a direct hit to her ribs and then fell backward and struck the cabin door with her back. After deplaning was complete, the flight crew gathered their belongings and exited the aircraft. As they exited, the FA showed signs of being in pain; as her left side was becoming more painful. The flight crew helped her to the next gate where she sat down and was met by the paramedics who briefly evaluated her before she was transported to the local hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured rib.
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 › (general) › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,617 hours in all; 2,333.6 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 341.0 hours in all; 341.0 in this make and model; 125.3 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: January 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 58,673 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 26, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 122,000 lb
- Seats: 114
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Bmw Rolls BR 700 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Bmw Rolls BR 700 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KBUF Buffalo NY at 4:04 pm
- Destination: KDTW Detroit MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21L, 10,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 1,300 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KDTW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 97 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2023. 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 | Flight Attendant Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Captain Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | First Officer Statement | PDF, 1 page | 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.