Airbus Industrie A319-114 accident near Reno, Nevada, April 15, 2002
On April 15, 2002 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Airbus Industrie A319-114, registered N325NB, was involved in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 67 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of an undetermined cabin crewmember to securely close an aft galley compartment door, which necessitated the injured crewmember leaving her seat to secure the compartment door.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2002 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 67 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Industrie A319-114 · all A319-114s on the register
- Registration
- N325NB · registry record · serial 1483
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane encountered moderate turbulence while descending for the approach into the airport and one flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The captain briefed the lead flight attendant on the expected turbulence encounter and asked that the cabin be secured early with everyone, including the flight attendants, in their seats and secured. A prearranged chime signal would notify the lead flight attendant that everyone should be in their seats. After the chime signal, everyone was seated and secured; however, a flight attendant seated in the rear of the airplane noticed that a galley upper door compartment had come open. This compartment was in line with both her head and another attendant's head, and she was concerned about objects coming out of the compartment during landing and injuring either one of them. She unfastened her restraints, got up, and secured the door. As she was returning to her seat, the airplane encountered a severe jolt, which violently slammed her into the ceiling, then the floor.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 1,755 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 12, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 2,579 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,906 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 15, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 155,200 lb
- Seats: 131
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cfm International CFM56-5-AS (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KMSP Minneapolis MN at 2:30 pm
- Destination: KRNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KRNO, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 6 | ||
| Passengers | 61 |
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.