N9010RCessna A188B · 1975

On August 3, 2016 at 7:45 pm eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 1007, an Airbus A319, N9010R, encountered clear air turbulence on descent to the Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM), George Town, Cayman Islands. As a result of the turbulence, one passenger received serious injuries and four passengers and three flight attendants received minor injuries. None of the other passengers and crew were injured and the airplane was not damaged.

The operator reported that while over international waters, the flight experienced moderate to severe turbulence for approximately 6-8 seconds while descending through FL180 into GCM. Both the autopilot and weather radar were on and operating at the time. The flight was in visual meteorological conditions and the crew had no warning of turbulence. The seat belt sign was on and had been on for approximately 10 minutes before the turbulence event occurred. The flight landed safely without further incident. The injured passenger was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a fractured vertebra.

The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane on a grass runway when the accident occurred. He stated that he had touched down and had lowered the tail when the airplane reached the intersecting paved taxiway for the perpendicular runway. He stated that the airplane "bounced" when it contacted the paved taxiway and began to veer to the right. He attempted to correct and the airplane ground-looped on the paved intersecting runway/taxiway. The damage to the airplane included a bent right wing spar, twisting of the fuselage structure, and damage to the landing gear attach structure within the fuselage.