ATL05CA085

Factual narrative

On May 21, 2005, at 2040 eastern daylight time, a Canadair CL600, N699CW, registered to Ramona Aviation LLC, operated by Flight Options LLC, as a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, made an abrupt pitch-up attitude and injured the flight attendant during climb out from Chattanooga, Tennessee, while enroute to Augusta, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was not damaged. The pilot-in command (PIC) and co-pilot reported no injuries. The flight attendant received serious injuries. The flight departed Lovell Field, Chattanooga, Tennessee, on May 21, 2005, at 2026. During the climb to the assigned altitude, the pilot was instructed by the air traffic controller to expedite its climb through flight level 250 within two minutes and to maintain flight level 290. The co-pilot was flying the airplane and rotated the speed bug to 300 knots. The PIC verbally instructed the co-pilot to, "get this thing climbing." At the same time the PIC pulled back on the control column which disconnected the autopilot and the nose of the airplane pitched up. The flight attendant was subsequently heard calling for help from the back of the airplane. The PIC departed the flight deck and found the flight attendant injured on the floor in the aft part of the cabin. The flight continued to and landed at August, Georgia, with out further incident. Review of Flight Option Standard Operating Procedures, Section 2-4, Manipulation of Flight Controls b. Transfer of Control states, If it is necessary to transfer control from one pilot to the other a positive, verbal command will be given. The pilot flying will state "You have the flight controls." The pilot taking the flight controls will state, "I have the controls." The co-pilot was flying the airplane climbing to an assigned altitude. Air Traffic Control instructed the flight to expedite their climb through flight level 250.The co-pilot rotated the speed bug to 300 knots. The pilot-in-command (PIC) verbally instructed the co-pilot to, "get this thing climbing." At the same time the PIC pulled back on the control column and disconnected the autopilot and the nose of the airplane pitched up. The PIC did not establish a positive transfer of the flight controls as required by company standard operating procedures. The flight attendant was subsequently heard calling for help from the back of the airplane. The PIC departed the flight deck and found the flight attendant on the floor in the aft part of the cabin with serious injuries. The flight continued to the destination airport and landed without further incident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12