Flight attendants aboard MD80 suffer injuries as a result of wake turbulence encounter.

Attributes
ACN	788923
Time
Date	200805
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Qualification	flight attendant : currently qualified flight attendant aircraft qualified on : 5
Experience	flight attendant time airline total : 10 flight attendant time total : 10 flight attendant time type : 90
ASRS Report	788923
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : wake turbulence
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

On descent we suddenly hit violent turbulence; due to a close encounter with another airplane. We hit the wake of the plane and the flight attendants; who were preparing for landing; were all injured. I was thrown; with great force; against the entry-way door; hitting my head and entire left side; landing on the floor. I was stunned and in shock. A passenger came to my aid. I don't remember some details; but did manage to make an announcement on landing and open the door for deplaning. I had a concussion and whiplash; and many bruises. Captain said a similar incident happened just one week before; and all the flight attendants were injured. I don't know why this happened; or whose fault it was; but I feel that if the flight attendants were able to prepare for landing earlier; there would be four fewer injuries. The descent is usually more turbulent and that's when we're up and about; doing our duties. This is not safe. We have to actually serve drinks and prepare for landing on 30-45 min flts! This is crazy! And not safe! I'd like to see this procedure change! All the flight attendants were injured and spent the night in the emergency room. If the passenger had been up; there could have been many more injuries. We should have been seated and fastened in our seatbelts as well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ATTENDANTS ABOARD MD80 SUFFER INJURIES AS A RESULT OF WAKE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER.

Narrative: ON DSCNT WE SUDDENLY HIT VIOLENT TURBULENCE; DUE TO A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH ANOTHER AIRPLANE. WE HIT THE WAKE OF THE PLANE AND THE FLT ATTENDANTS; WHO WERE PREPARING FOR LNDG; WERE ALL INJURED. I WAS THROWN; WITH GREAT FORCE; AGAINST THE ENTRY-WAY DOOR; HITTING MY HEAD AND ENTIRE LEFT SIDE; LNDG ON THE FLOOR. I WAS STUNNED AND IN SHOCK. A PAX CAME TO MY AID. I DON'T REMEMBER SOME DETAILS; BUT DID MANAGE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON LNDG AND OPEN THE DOOR FOR DEPLANING. I HAD A CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH; AND MANY BRUISES. CAPT SAID A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED JUST ONE WEEK BEFORE; AND ALL THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE INJURED. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED; OR WHOSE FAULT IT WAS; BUT I FEEL THAT IF THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE ABLE TO PREPARE FOR LNDG EARLIER; THERE WOULD BE FOUR FEWER INJURIES. THE DSCNT IS USUALLY MORE TURBULENT AND THAT'S WHEN WE'RE UP AND ABOUT; DOING OUR DUTIES. THIS IS NOT SAFE. WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY SERVE DRINKS AND PREPARE FOR LNDG ON 30-45 MIN FLTS! THIS IS CRAZY! AND NOT SAFE! I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS PROC CHANGE! ALL THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE INJURED AND SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. IF THE PAX HAD BEEN UP; THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MANY MORE INJURIES. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEATED AND FASTENED IN OUR SEATBELTS AS WELL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.