Incident Details
On March 26, 2011, at approximately 0729 central daylight time, an Embraer EMB-145LR, registration N931AE, operating as American Eagle Airlines flight 4355, experienced turbulence while climbing north of Kansas City, Missouri. The flight was en route to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) from Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City, where it had originated about 0705. The aircraft sustained no damage. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a scheduled domestic passenger service. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an activated instrument flight rules flight plan was on file.
Flight Attendant Injury
According to the operator, the flight attendant had completed cabin service and was returning to her jumpseat when the airplane encountered convectively induced turbulence associated with a developing thunderstorm under the flight path while climbing through flight level (FL) 320. She lost her footing and struck her head on the service galley door. While attempting to steady herself, she fell again, injuring her wrist and knee. The flight attendant noticed her hand swelling and informed the flight crew that she could not complete her duties. The crew decided to divert to Kansas City International Airport (MCI) for immediate medical attention. Paramedics met the aircraft and transported the flight attendant to a hospital, where fractures to her wrist and hand were confirmed as serious injuries. The 2 pilots and 49 passengers were uninjured.
Flight Data Recorder Analysis
Review of the airplane's flight data recorder data showed that the upset event occurred at approximately 07:29:35 during the climb. The vertical acceleration ranged from 1.54g to 0.60g within a one-second period, and the airplane was climbing through FL 299 at the time.
Dispatch and Weather Information
Examination of the flight's dispatch records indicated scattered to broken areas of thunderstorms extending from eastern Oklahoma to western Arkansas, with tops reaching 42,000 feet above sea level. The records advised of possible convection over eastern Oklahoma. However, the dispatch paperwork did not include the latest convective significant meteorological information (SIGMET) 22C, which covered an area of severe thunderstorms in the immediate vicinity of the upset location.