MD88 PLT FALLS AND BREAKS HIS WRIST PRIOR TO THE FLT. THE PLT ELECTS TO FLY THE FLT INJURED.

Narrative

I WAS AN FO ON FLT BWI-ATL. WE DEPARTED SEVERAL HRS LATE DUE TO TSTMS IN ATL AREA. WHEN GETTING OUT OF CREW VAN AT BWI; THE STEP THE DRIVER HAD PUT OUT COLLAPSED. (I LATER LEARNED THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE.) I INSTINCTIVELY TRIED TO BRACE MY FALL WITH MY R HAND. I REALIZED THAT MY HAND WAS IN PAIN AND WAS SWELLING. SINCE I COULD USE IT; I ELECTED TO FLY TO ATL AS PNF; AS I BELIEVED I COULD FLY THE ACFT IF NECESSARY. I GOT OFF THE TRIP IN ATL AND GOT TO THE DOCTOR THE NEXT DAY AS SOON AS I COULD GET HOME. X-RAYS WERE TAKEN AND I LEARNED I HAD A BROKEN R WRIST. I WAS PROVIDED WITH A BRACE. I WAS ALSO SEEN FOR SEVERE HIP PAIN (R HIP) ASSOCIATED WITH THE FALL. I AM NOW REALIZING THAT IF I COULD DO THIS OVER AGAIN (ASIDE FROM NOT FALLING); I SHOULD HAVE NOT FLOWN THE LEG TO ATL AS I THOUGHT I WAS CAPABLE; BUT SHOULD HAVE HAD A DOCTOR CHK IT OUT FIRST. I NOW BELIEVE I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EMPLOYING MY MEDICAL ON THAT FLT AS I HAD REASONABLE DOUBT AS TO MY AIRWORTHINESS. FACTORS WERE: SOLD OUT FLT; CANCELING WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN HUGE INCONVENIENCE TO MANY PEOPLE. SAFETY HAPPENS ALL THE TIME; NOT JUST IN THE PLANE. THE VAN COMPANY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN USING A STEP KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. IT IS STILL HARD TO WRITE.