What Are the Types of Turbulence During an Airplane Crash?

Some turbulence is normal on an aircraft during flight and, in fact, it is a routine part of flying. In some situations, however, turbulence can be extreme and can actually cause serious injuries to occur.  

It’s important to understand the different kinds of turbulence and, if you are harmed, to know your legal rights. 

Slack Davis can help if you suffer harm because of turbulence-related injuries. Our firm has decades of experience fighting for victims of aviation accidents, and we can bring that legal knowledge to your case to help you obtain compensation for damages.

To find out more about how our compassionate and knowledgeable Texas aviation accident lawyers can fight for you, give us a call (800) 455-8686 or contact us online. You can also read on to learn more about different types of turbulence and how they may affect you on your journey.

What is Turbulence, and How Does it Affect You?

Turbulence occurs when the air moves irregularly as a result of:

• Vertical air currents, or convective turbulence
• Obstructions to smooth airflow, or mechanical turbulence

Turbulence typically causes an aircraft in flight to move up and down irregularly due to wind variation or changes in wind speed and direction. 

However, the size of an aircraft can impact how turbulence impacts the plane. Smaller planes are much more likely to be affected and move up and down because it requires less energy for the wind to move these smaller aircraft.

Types of Turbulence

Some of the different types of turbulence that you may encounter include:

• Wind shear turbulence: When the speed or direction of wind rapidly changes over a short distance, wind shear turbulence can occur and significantly affect aircraft lift. This is especially risky when the plane is close to the ground.
• Frontal turbulence: When different weather fronts (warm and cold air masses) meet, frontal turbulence can result if the air mixes poorly. In storms, this can cause severe turbulence.
• Mountain wave turbulence: This occurs when wind is forced up due to hitting mountains, then oscillates on the downward slope. It can cause strong waves even at high altitudes far from the mountains.
• Clear air turbulence: This can occur even in clear skies and at high altitudes and typically results from wind shear or the collision of different air speeds. Because there is no visual warning, this type of turbulence can be especially dangerous. 
• Thunderstorm turbulence: This is caused by violent updrafts and downdrafts inside storms. It’s the most extreme type of convective turbulence, and it can be very dangerous for passengers, which is why pilots aim to avoid thunderstorms, and planes can be delayed due to weather. 
• Wake turbulence: This occurs because of wingtip vortices from other aircraft, especially when a small plane is close to a large one.
• Inversion turbulence: This occurs at a boundary between different layers of air with different temperatures. Even in calm conditions, this can create turbulence

Pilots need to be educated about the conditions that lead to turbulence and should ensure they avoid flying in dangerous weather conditions and adjust flight plans appropriately to avoid injury to passengers.

Getting Help if You or Someone You Love Was Harmed Due to Turbulence

If extreme turbulence causes you harm, Slack Davis is here to help. Give our aviation accident lawyers a call at (800) 455-8686 today to schedule a consultation and find out how we can help you.