Narrative:

Prior to flight, passenger notified to expect some turbulence en route. When descent commenced WX radar turned on due to thunderstorm in ohio valley. Prior to FL180, another PA was made directing passenger to fasten seatbelts and to expect some light turbulence during descent into dtw. IMC and light turbulence encountered during descent. I directed PNF to ensure both flight attendants were seated with harnesses on. Continuing in light turbulence, radar showed nothing more than rain -- no storm cells noted on course for STAR. During descent, we encountered several moderate bumps. Approximately 30 seconds later, #2 flight attendant came forward to inform us that a passenger (a non revenue flight attendant commuting to her crew base) had been up in the cabin during the moderate bumps and suspected she had broken her ankle. #2 flight attendant administered first aid, and I directed company operations to have paramedics meet the flight. Remainder of descent/approach was uneventful with little or no turbulence. There is an ongoing problem with passenger ignoring PA announcements regarding turbulence, and disregarding the fasten seatbelt sign. Of particular concern is that a flight attendant chose to ignore the turbulence and was injured. She was not in uniform, was not part of the crew, and had no duties in the cabin. We must continue to stress to all passenger that it is impossible to accurately forecast turbulence 100% of the time, and PA's should be heeded.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9-50 PAX INJURED DURING DSCNT DUE TO TURB FROM TSTMS.

Narrative: PRIOR TO FLT, PAX NOTIFIED TO EXPECT SOME TURB ENRTE. WHEN DSCNT COMMENCED WX RADAR TURNED ON DUE TO TSTM IN OHIO VALLEY. PRIOR TO FL180, ANOTHER PA WAS MADE DIRECTING PAX TO FASTEN SEATBELTS AND TO EXPECT SOME LIGHT TURB DURING DSCNT INTO DTW. IMC AND LIGHT TURB ENCOUNTERED DURING DSCNT. I DIRECTED PNF TO ENSURE BOTH FLT ATTENDANTS WERE SEATED WITH HARNESSES ON. CONTINUING IN LIGHT TURB, RADAR SHOWED NOTHING MORE THAN RAIN -- NO STORM CELLS NOTED ON COURSE FOR STAR. DURING DSCNT, WE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL MODERATE BUMPS. APPROX 30 SECONDS LATER, #2 FLT ATTENDANT CAME FORWARD TO INFORM US THAT A PAX (A NON REVENUE FLT ATTENDANT COMMUTING TO HER CREW BASE) HAD BEEN UP IN THE CABIN DURING THE MODERATE BUMPS AND SUSPECTED SHE HAD BROKEN HER ANKLE. #2 FLT ATTENDANT ADMINISTERED FIRST AID, AND I DIRECTED COMPANY OPS TO HAVE PARAMEDICS MEET THE FLT. REMAINDER OF DSCNT/APCH WAS UNEVENTFUL WITH LITTLE OR NO TURB. THERE IS AN ONGOING PROB WITH PAX IGNORING PA ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING TURB, AND DISREGARDING THE FASTEN SEATBELT SIGN. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS THAT A FLT ATTENDANT CHOSE TO IGNORE THE TURB AND WAS INJURED. SHE WAS NOT IN UNIFORM, WAS NOT PART OF THE CREW, AND HAD NO DUTIES IN THE CABIN. WE MUST CONTINUE TO STRESS TO ALL PAX THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCURATELY FORECAST TURB 100% OF THE TIME, AND PA'S SHOULD BE HEEDED.

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.