Narrative:

ATC facility -- ZME and bna approach. Location -- approximately 60 mi east of bna. 2 flight attendants and 1 passenger were injured when we unexpectedly encountered light turbulence in the descent into bna. The descent was smooth until approximately 16500 ft MSL when we began picking up light chop. I immediately turned on the fasten seat belt sign at approximately 16000 ft and heard the #1 flight attendant make the required PA. The light chop continued until about 12000 ft when it began to intensify significantly to moderate chop. I immediately made a PA telling the flight attendants to prepare for landing earlier than normal and take their seats. My PA was completed by 11000 ft and I again heard the #1 flight attendant make her required PA. Continuing to level off at 10000 ft the chop increased to continuous light turbulence. I asked and received descent and received subsequent clrncs to 8000 ft, 6000 ft, and 3000 ft. The light turbulence continued until we were below 6000 ft. I monitored an interphone call between coach and first class and learned of the 3 injuries. I immediately called bna operations and requested medical assistance for our arrival at the gate. Several medically trained policemen met our flight and took charge of the injuries. During the entire descent into bna we were in and out of the WX with the radar on. When the chop began at 16500 ft I switched to the WX turbulence mode. No returns or purple turbulence was noted at any time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SUPER 80 FLC ENCOUNTERS TURB ON DSCNT RESULTING IN INJURIES.

Narrative: ATC FACILITY -- ZME AND BNA APCH. LOCATION -- APPROX 60 MI E OF BNA. 2 FLT ATTENDANTS AND 1 PAX WERE INJURED WHEN WE UNEXPECTEDLY ENCOUNTERED LIGHT TURB IN THE DSCNT INTO BNA. THE DSCNT WAS SMOOTH UNTIL APPROX 16500 FT MSL WHEN WE BEGAN PICKING UP LIGHT CHOP. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON THE FASTEN SEAT BELT SIGN AT APPROX 16000 FT AND HEARD THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT MAKE THE REQUIRED PA. THE LIGHT CHOP CONTINUED UNTIL ABOUT 12000 FT WHEN IT BEGAN TO INTENSIFY SIGNIFICANTLY TO MODERATE CHOP. I IMMEDIATELY MADE A PA TELLING THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO PREPARE FOR LNDG EARLIER THAN NORMAL AND TAKE THEIR SEATS. MY PA WAS COMPLETED BY 11000 FT AND I AGAIN HEARD THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT MAKE HER REQUIRED PA. CONTINUING TO LEVEL OFF AT 10000 FT THE CHOP INCREASED TO CONTINUOUS LIGHT TURB. I ASKED AND RECEIVED DSCNT AND RECEIVED SUBSEQUENT CLRNCS TO 8000 FT, 6000 FT, AND 3000 FT. THE LIGHT TURB CONTINUED UNTIL WE WERE BELOW 6000 FT. I MONITORED AN INTERPHONE CALL BTWN COACH AND FIRST CLASS AND LEARNED OF THE 3 INJURIES. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED BNA OPS AND REQUESTED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUR ARR AT THE GATE. SEVERAL MEDICALLY TRAINED POLICEMEN MET OUR FLT AND TOOK CHARGE OF THE INJURIES. DURING THE ENTIRE DSCNT INTO BNA WE WERE IN AND OUT OF THE WX WITH THE RADAR ON. WHEN THE CHOP BEGAN AT 16500 FT I SWITCHED TO THE WX TURB MODE. NO RETURNS OR PURPLE TURB WAS NOTED AT ANY TIME.

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.