Incident Overview
A cabin attendant sustained serious injuries during the landing phase of a repositioning flight that carried no passengers. The accident occurred when an unsecured galley cart, left in the aft galley, traveled the length of the cabin and collided with the attendant, who was standing in the forward cabin at the time of touchdown.
Procedural Deviations
Investigators determined that the cabin attendant's actions deviated from company training, guidance, and checklists. Specifically, she was standing in the forward cabin during landing rather than being seated, and the galley cart had been left unsecured in the aft galley prior to touchdown. These conditions were contrary to established safety protocols.
Cart and Lock Examination
The cabin attendant reported that the cart involved was part of her area of responsibility. Post-accident examination of the galley cart's wheel locks and the galley cart receptacle locks revealed that they operated as designed, with no anomalies detected. This indicated that the locking mechanisms were functional and that the cart's movement resulted from its unsecured state rather than a mechanical failure.
Injuries and Aftermath
The attendant was struck by the cart during the deceleration of the landing rollout, resulting in serious injuries. No other individuals were on board the aircraft at the time.