On December 28, 1997, a Boeing 747-122 (registration N4723U) was involved in an aviation accident near Pacific Ocean, PO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot-in-command's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions, and the difficulty of obtaining adequate weather forecasts of over-ocean turbulence. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The flightcrew inadvertently flew into clear air turbulence despite forecasts indicating no turbulence. A Japanese-speaking flight attendant did not fully translate one seat belt instruction, though multiple announcements had been made before the encounter.
Incident
The flightcrew inadvertently flew into an area of clear air turbulence. The encounter occurred despite weather forecasts that indicated there would be no turbulence in that area. The ability to forecast clear air turbulence over the ocean is limited.
Communication and Announcements
Prior to the turbulence encounter, the captain instructed the flight attendant to make seat belt announcements. These announcements were made and translated into Japanese several times. However, during one instance, the Japanese-speaking flight attendant did not fully translate one of the captain's instructions to fasten seat belts into Japanese. Most of the passengers aboard spoke only Japanese.
Implications of Translation
The incomplete translation meant that some passengers may not have received the full instruction to fasten their seat belts. The source does not specify whether this contributed to any injuries or damage. The flightcrew's inadvertent entry into clear air turbulence, combined with the communication gap, highlights challenges in aviation safety regarding turbulence forecasting and multilingual crew-passenger interactions.
What happened in the 28 Dec 1997 Boeing 747-122 accident near Pacific Ocean, PO?
The flightcrew inadvertently flew into clear air turbulence despite forecasts indicating no turbulence. A Japanese-speaking flight attendant did not fully translate one seat belt instruction, though multiple announcements had been made before the encounter.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 28 Dec 1997 involved a Boeing 747-122, registration N4723U, at Pacific Ocean, PO.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot-in-command's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions, and the difficulty of obtaining adequate weather forecasts of over-ocean turbulence. Factors contributing to the accident include the presence of clear air turbulence, and the failure of the flight attendant to issue a safety advisory.
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