Gulfstream Aerospace GIV-X (G450) accident near Miami, Florida, December 24, 2022
On December 24, 2022 at about 11:55 am local time, a 2008 Gulfstream Aerospace GIV-X (G450), registered N456FX, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Miami, Florida. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured; 12 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An unanticipated encounter with convective induced turbulence from developing cumulus clouds below the flight path, which produced strong updrafts and downdrafts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2022 · about 11:55 am local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 12 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream Aerospace GIV-X (G450), built 2008 · all GIV-X (G450)s on the register
- Registration
- N456FX · registry record · serial 4132
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Gulfstream 450 airplane encountered turbulence while in level cruise flight at 36,000 ft. and a cabin server (CS) fractured her arm and leg. The flight crew reported that after departure, while climbing through 20,000 ft, they encountered unexpected light turbulence, and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. About 30 minutes into the flight at a cruising altitude of 36,000 ft (FL360) in visual meteorological conditions with the autopilot engaged, the copilot noticed a cloud top “rising up” from under the nose of the airplane. The airplane “pitched up and down rapidly with a hard jolt;” however, the autopilot did not disengage, and the airplane returned to normal flight. A passenger notified the flight crew of injuries to the CS. At the time of the turbulence event, the CS was in the aft galley taking catering notes, when she felt a rising sensation. She attempted to get low to the floor in case turbulence was encountered. While looking over her shoulder to check on the passenger cabin, she was thrown into the air and “hurled” to the floor impacting on her left shoulder, arm, and hip. Upon being notified of the injury, the flight crew declared an emergency and diverted to Miami for medical assistance. The injured CS was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured left arm and multiple fractures to her left leg. At the time of the turbulence encounter there were no active convective significant meteorological information (SIGMETs), international SIGMETs, center weather advisories (CWAs) or pilot reports (PIREPs) 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 (cruise) 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 (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,450 hours in all; 2,150 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,665 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,975 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 7, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,568.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 10, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 74,600 lb
- Seats: 19
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royc TAY 611-8C (turbofan); 4,958 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royc TAY 611-8C (turbofan); 96,075 hours total
- Operator: Flexjet LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Providenciales OF
- Destination: March Harbour OF
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | 2 | ||
| Passengers | 10 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DCA23LA107.