Primary finding
Probable cause
An elderly passenger losing his balance as the aircraft operated in smooth air.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While the flight was cruising in smooth air, an elderly passenger fell as he exited the lavatory. It was later determined that he experience a broken hip.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 19, 1995, about 1455 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 727-227, N76752, registered to First Security Bank and operated by Continental Airlines as flight 645, scheduled domestic passenger service from Newark, New Jersey, to Fort Myers, Florida, had a passenger injured during cruise flight near Brooksville, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft was not damaged. The airline transport-rated pilot, first officer, flight engineer, 3 flight attendants, and 124 passengers were not injured. One passenger was seriously injured. The flight originated from Newark, New Jersey, the same day, about 1225. The captain stated the aircraft was operating in clear weather with no turbulence at the time of the incident. An elderly passenger exited the lavatory, and according to a flight attendant and another passenger, accidently fell and injured his hip. -