Mcdonnell Douglas MD88 accident near Miami, Florida, June 22, 2011
On June 22, 2011 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD88, registered N884DA, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Miami, Florida. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 126 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight encounter with convective turbulence, resulting in an injury to a cabin attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2011 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 126 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD88
- Registration
- N884DA · no longer on the register · serial 49762
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the captain, the flight was descending when he notified the cabin crew to take their seats because of anticipated turbulence. Soon after, while descending through 15,000 feet, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence for several seconds. According to the cabin crew, they were providing beverage services when they were notified, and began to secure the cabin when the airplane encountered the turbulence. One of the flight attendants sustained a serious injury, while the others were not injured. The airplane was not damaged and the flight landed uneventfully at the destination airport.
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 Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,176 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 10,976 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 8, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,139 hours in all; 214 in this make and model; 139 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 67,993 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 160,000 lb
- Seats: 157
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dynamic Airways, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: MUHA Havana at 4:20 pm
- Destination: MIA Miami FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MIA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 2 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 122 |
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.