Airbus A320-214 accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 23, 2023
On July 23, 2023 at about 2:07 pm local time, a 1997 Airbus A320-214, registered N229NV, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 181 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew’s abrupt change in pitch in response to a traffic collision advisory system resolution advisory that resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2023 · about 2:07 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 181 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320-214, built 1997 · all A320-214s on the register
- Registration
- N229NV · no longer on the register · serial 730
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Allegiant Air flight 485 flight crew preformed a climb maneuver in response to a Traffic Collison Avoidance System (TCAS) advisory resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant onboard. Flight 485 was at flight level (FL) 230 [23,000 feet] and enroute to the Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Lexington, Kentucky when the event occurred. The flight crew reported they had been on a generally northern course since their departure from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) when they received a heading of 100 degrees from air traffic control (ATC). Jacksonville Center closed the airspace to the North in response to severe weather in the area. Minutes later, the flight crew reported receiving a TCAS traffic advisory (TA) followed immediately by a resolution advisory (RA) to which the flight crew followed the given climb rate, to avoid another aircraft in their path. After the flight crew returned to FL230, they received a call from the lead flight attendant to report that the unexpected climb caused one flight attendant to be “knocked to the ground” and was injured. ATC declared an emergency for the flight after the flight crew reported the injury of the flight attendant and the flight subsequently diverted back to FLL due to significant weather over central Florida.
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
- Air traffic event during enroute (cruise)
- Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Abrupt maneuver during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Flight crew
- Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Illness/injury › Cabin crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,843 hours in all; 5,010 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 8,852 as pilot in command; 811 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 27, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,409 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 1,767 as pilot in command; 1,006 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 25, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 74,706.4 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 31, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 169,755 lb
- Seats: 187
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-5B4/P (turbofan); 46,200 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-5B4/3 (turbofan); 578 hours total
- Operator: Allegiant Air, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KFLL Fort Lauderdale FL at 5:28 pm
- Destination: KLEX Lexington KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KXMR, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 176 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 18, 2024. 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 Crew Statements | PDF, 2 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.