Airbus A319-132 accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, February 16, 2023
On February 16, 2023 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 2005 Airbus A319-132, registered N505NK, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near New Orleans, Louisiana. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 154 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight’s encounter with convective turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2023 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 154 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A319-132, built 2005 · all A319-132s on the register
- Registration
- N505NK · no longer on the register · serial 2485
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Spirit Airlines flight 641 encountered convective turbulence while descending into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), New Orleans, Louisiana. As a result of the turbulence, all three flight attendants were injured with two receiving minor injuries and one receiving a serious injury. The aircraft continued to its destination without further incident. According to the captain, the flight crew completed the approach checklist and illuminated the seat belt sign when the airplane was at about flight level (FL)180. As the airplane passed through 12,000 feet, the first officer (FO) made an announcement to the flight attendants to prepare the cabin for landing. According to the lead flight attendant, she made the landing announcement to passengers while the other two flight attendants started final checks from the aft cabin. The lead flight attendant then started the final check from the front of the aircraft. When the lead flight attendant was between rows 6 and 9, the airplane descended through a cloud layer at about 7000 feet and experienced what was described as moderate turbulence by the flight crew. This turbulence led to all three flight attendants falling to the floor. All three flight attendants agreed they needed medical attention and notified the flight crew. The FO called operations and requested for paramedics to meet the airplane. The flight continued to its destination without further incident. Upon arrival at MSY, paramedics met the airplane at the gate, and all flight attendants received medical treatment. The lead flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured ankle. Another flight attendant suffered minor injuries to their back and the third suffered minor injuries to their head. Both pilots stated that the cloud layer appeared stable with no vertical development, and there were no indications on the radar that suggested the risk of turbulence. A post-accident review of the weather conditions showed no pilot reports (PIREPs) for turbulence located within a 100 nm radius from the accident location within 2 hours of the accident time. There were no airman’s meteorological information (AIRMETs), significant meteorological information (SIGMETs), or Center Weather Advisories for turbulence or thunderstorm activity for the accident location. Based on weather satellite information and upper air sounding data, the flight encountered convective activity while traversing building cumulus clouds during the descent.
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 personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,100 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 2,645 as pilot in command; 541 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 15, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,256 hours in all; 356 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 1,315 as pilot in command; 1,132 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 21, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 166,447 lb
- Seats: 150
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Iae V2524-A5 (turbofan); 4,081 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae V2524-A5 (turbofan); 55,813 hours total
- Operator: Spirit Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: ATL Atlanta GA at 12:22 pm
- Destination: MSY New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:40 am from KMSY, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Passengers | 152 |
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 DCA23LA175.