Medium large transport encounters severe windshear, diverts.

Attributes
ACN	320935
Time
Date	199511
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 14300 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	320935
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : regained aircraft control other
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Flight from atl to dca, scheduled passenger flight. Dca WX 3000 ft overcast, visibility 6 mi, wind 180 degrees at 23 KTS, gusts 30 KTS. Dca forecasting turbulence and windshear. On descent into dca we encountered only very light chop. Level at 6000 ft and being vectored for an approach, we were in light rain, and a smooth ride. Without notice or warning we hit severe turbulence. We gained 80 KTS instantly and 700 ft altitude in 5 seconds. The autoplt disconnected and we were momentarily out of control. Then, just as suddenly, we lost 100 KTS airspeed and 1000 ft altitude! We informed ATC as soon as we could, and they then cleared us to do whatever we needed to do to exit the turbulence. We ended up diverting to rdu. Only 1 flight attendant was hurt, hitting her head on a wall. All passenger were seated with seat belts on and none were hurt, however, many were sick. A structural inspection was performed on the aircraft in rdu. There was no traffic conflict with our altdevs that I was aware of and ATC did not indicate there was, either.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG ENCOUNTERS SEVERE WINDSHEAR, DIVERTS.

Narrative: FLT FROM ATL TO DCA, SCHEDULED PAX FLT. DCA WX 3000 FT OVCST, VISIBILITY 6 MI, WIND 180 DEGS AT 23 KTS, GUSTS 30 KTS. DCA FORECASTING TURB AND WINDSHEAR. ON DSCNT INTO DCA WE ENCOUNTERED ONLY VERY LIGHT CHOP. LEVEL AT 6000 FT AND BEING VECTORED FOR AN APCH, WE WERE IN LIGHT RAIN, AND A SMOOTH RIDE. WITHOUT NOTICE OR WARNING WE HIT SEVERE TURB. WE GAINED 80 KTS INSTANTLY AND 700 FT ALT IN 5 SECONDS. THE AUTOPLT DISCONNECTED AND WE WERE MOMENTARILY OUT OF CTL. THEN, JUST AS SUDDENLY, WE LOST 100 KTS AIRSPD AND 1000 FT ALT! WE INFORMED ATC AS SOON AS WE COULD, AND THEY THEN CLRED US TO DO WHATEVER WE NEEDED TO DO TO EXIT THE TURB. WE ENDED UP DIVERTING TO RDU. ONLY 1 FLT ATTENDANT WAS HURT, HITTING HER HEAD ON A WALL. ALL PAX WERE SEATED WITH SEAT BELTS ON AND NONE WERE HURT, HOWEVER, MANY WERE SICK. A STRUCTURAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON THE ACFT IN RDU. THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT WITH OUR ALTDEVS THAT I WAS AWARE OF AND ATC DID NOT INDICATE THERE WAS, EITHER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.