Mcdonnell Douglas MD88 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, March 28, 2009
On March 28, 2009 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD88, registered N941DL, suffered minor damage in an accident during enroute (descent) near Atlanta, Georgia (Hartsfield Jackson Int. Arpt). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 136 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight attendant’s failure to properly restrain herself after taking her jumpseat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2009 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Hartsfield Jackson Int. Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 136 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD88 88
- Registration
- N941DL · no longer on the register · serial 49814
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on initial approach, the flight crew announced over the public address system for passengers and flight attendants to take their seats. According to one of the flight attendants, it took about 1 minute to get everything put away in the galley, then he and another attendant went to the aft jumpseat to be seated. Neither fastened their restraints. Shortly thereafter, there was a "jolt of turbulence" that lasted between 2 to 3 seconds. Both flight attendants came off the aft jumpseat and it retracted into the stowed position, and one fell onto her side and incurred injuries to her elbow, shoulder, and head. As a result of the event, the operator clarified its turbulence training and guidance to emphasize that flight attendants "must be seated with seat belts and shoulder harness secured during moderate/severe turbulence or when directed by the captain."
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
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Cabin crew
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › Operator
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,844 hours in all; 1,745 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 24, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 836 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 11, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 53,061 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 25, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 150,500 lb
- Seats: 149
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT8D (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT8D (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines Inc
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX at 1:41 pm
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 24 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,700 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 4:10 pm from ATL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 2 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 132 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.