Airbus A320-232 accident near Fort Myers, Florida, July 10, 2009
On July 10, 2009 at about 8:08 pm local time, a Airbus A320-232, registered N606JB, was involved in an accident during approach near Fort Myers, Florida (Southwest Florida Internationa airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 149 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inadvertent in-flight encounter with turbulence during approach. Contributing to the accident was the passengers' failure to follow the instructions of the illuminated seatbelt sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2009 · about 8:08 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Myers, Florida · Southwest Florida Internationa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 149 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320-232 · all A320-232s on the register
- Registration
- N606JB · registry record · serial 2384
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was descending through 12,500 feet on approach to the airport. The airplane was jolted as it flew through a small cumulus cloud. Specifically, the airplane dropped about 20 feet instantaneously, experiencing a positive g-load of 1.98, followed by a negative g-load of -0.43, less than 1 second later. During that time, a seated passenger did not have her seatbelt fastened. She fell forward into the stowed tray table in front of her, fracturing two ribs. A second passenger was in an aft lavatory and suffered two spinal fractures. The captain had made a passenger announcement during initial descent and prior to the turbulence encounter, emphasizing the need for passengers to take their seats and fasten their seatbelts when the seatbelt sign was illuminated. Additionally, a flight attendant made a public announcement when the seatbelt sign was illuminated. The seatbelt sign had been illuminated since 19,000 feet (about 4 minutes prior) and the airplane was not flying through any precipitation. The captain had also instructed the flight attendants via intercom to sit down a few minutes prior to the turbulence encounter.
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 approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Not specified
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Following instructions › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,384 hours in all; 4,246 in this make and model; 194 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 11,363 as pilot in command; 1,177 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 10, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,847 hours in all; 1,659 in this make and model; 3,361 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 24, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,703 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 10, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 171,958 lb
- Seats: 160
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Iae V2527-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae V2527-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jetblue Airways CORP
The flight
- Departed from: JFK New York NY at 6:03 pm
- Destination: RSW Fort Myers FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from RSW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 | 144 |
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.