Casualties unknown

Passenger Injured by Turbulence During Descent (N312DL)

Pensacola, FL, US

On November 7, 1995, a Boeing 737-200 (registration N312DL) operated by Delta Airlines Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Pensacola, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the passenger to remain seated while the seatbelt sign was illuminated during a turbulence encounter. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards
Boeing 737-200
Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A passenger sustained a broken leg after being thrown into a galley during a brief turbulence encounter while the crew was descending and the seatbelt sign was on.

What happened

The flight crew was managing a descent from an altitude of 18,000 feet down to 10,000 feet. During this phase of the flight, the cabin seatbelt sign was illuminated, and a public address announcement was made instructing all occupants to fasten their seatbelts.

Despite these precautions, the aircraft encountered a short period of turbulence. At that moment, one passenger was standing in the aisle near the rear lavatory. The sudden movement caused the individual to be thrown forward into the rear galley area. As a result of this impact, the passenger suffered a broken leg.

Probable cause

The failure of the passenger to remain seated while the seatbelt sign was illuminated during a turbulence encounter.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X04894. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.