Airbus A320-232 accident near North Fayston, Vermont, February 19, 2011
On February 19, 2011 at about 11:43 pm local time, a Airbus A320-232, registered N706JB, was involved in an accident during approach (IFR initial approach) near North Fayston, Vermont (Burlington International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 117 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's inadvertent encounter with turbulence during the approach, which resulted in 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
- February 19, 2011 · about 11:43 pm local time
- Place
- North Fayston, Vermont · Burlington International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 117 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320-232 · all A320-232s on the register
- Registration
- N706JB · registry record · serial 3451
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the captain, while on approach at an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet mean sea level, the airplane experienced an encounter with severe turbulence. Two flight attendants struck the aft galley floor and rear passenger door. One flight attendant sustained bruising and the other flight attendant sustained multiple fractured ribs. The airplane continued its approach and landed normally. There was no damage to the airplane.
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 (IFR initial approach) defining event
- Cabin safety event during approach (IFR initial approach)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 3,175 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 22, 2011
- 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: 5,284 hours in all; 257 in this make and model; 151 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 3,610 as pilot in command; 2,478 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 15, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,582 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 14, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 170,635 lb
- Seats: 160
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Iae V12840 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae V12840 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jetblue Airways CORP
The flight
- Departed from: JFK Jamaica NY at 10:00 pm
- Destination: BTV Burlington VT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 8,320 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 320° at 20 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,400 ft; a few clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from BTV, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 114 |
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.