Boeing 737-8 accident near Miami, Florida, November 10, 2022
On November 10, 2022 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2020 Boeing 737-8, registered N316SE, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Miami, Florida. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 147 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with convective turbulence during descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2022 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 147 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-8, built 2020 · all 737-8s on the register
- Registration
- N316SE · registry record · serial 44472
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
American Airlines flight 2548 encountered turbulence while descending through 18,000 ft to land at the Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami, FL, and a flight attendant (FA) fractured her spine. The flight crew reported that during descent, with the seatbelt sign illuminated and after notifying the FAs to prepare for landing, air traffic control (ATC) issued a vector for the approach at MIA with a flight path that intersected a thin cloud layer. After the airplane passed through this cloud layer about 18,000 ft, the pilot’s noticed a towering cumulus cloud directly ahead that had not been displayed on the airplane’s weather radar display. Unable to maneuver around the cloud build up, the airplane passed through the tops of the cumulus clouds, and the flight encountered moderate turbulence for about 3 seconds. The flight crew then received a call from the cabin advising them that a FA had been injured. At the time of the turbulence event, the number 4 FA was in the aft galley and was thrown to the floor. She came to rest with her back against the aft jumpseat. The injured FA was provided oxygen, helped to her jumpseat, and secured with her safety belt. Upon being notified of the injury, the flight crew requested to have paramedics meet the airplane at the gate. The injured FA was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured spine. Eddy dissipation rate (EDR) is a universal measure of turbulence rate. Recorded data from the airplane revealed that about 1900 to 1901 EST the EDR indicated 0.156 to 0.175 which equates to light turbulence. About 5 minutes later the EDR indicated 0.367 which equates to moderate turbulence. At the time of the flight’s arrival into MIA there were no active significant meteorological information (SIGMETs) for the area where the turbulence occurred.
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 › Convective turbulence › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,516 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 25, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,263 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 6, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,475 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 9, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 177,000 lb
- Seats: 180
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl LEAP-1B25 (turbofan); 5,925 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl LEAP-1B25 (turbofan); 8,201 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines Inc
The flight
- Departed from: Saint Croix CB
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
Weather report (METAR): MIA 102353Z 17005KT 10SM FEW027 SCT250 26/21 A2980 RMK AO2 SLP092 60000 T02610211 10294 20261 53018=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 142 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Dispatch Weather Packet | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Email Correction to Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | 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.