Incident Overview
TWA Flight 374 encountered severe clear air turbulence while conducting its initial descent into St. Louis. The event occurred over Cape Girardeau at an altitude of FL220. According to flight data recorder information, vertical acceleration changes were recorded between +2.5g and -0.79g during the turbulence encounter.
Injuries
Two flight attendants sustained injuries as a result of the turbulence. One flight attendant suffered a broken clavicle, while the other received bruised ribs.
Meteorological Context
A SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) for moderate occasional severe turbulence from FL240 to FL350 was issued just after the flight departed from New Orleans, Louisiana. The flight had been cleared to a lower altitude and was beginning to experience bumpy conditions when the severe turbulence occurred.