Embraer EMB-135LR N12530

Summary

On 30 November 2010 at about 15:35 local time, a Embraer EMB-135LR registered N12530, operated by Chautauqua Airlines Inc, was involved in an accident near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. 29 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 9 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 November 2010 at 15:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

General Mitchell IAP (MKE)

Coordinates

43.0200, -87.9280

Aircraft

Embraer EMB-135LR

Registration

N12530

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Chautauqua Airlines Inc

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St Louis → Milwaukee

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA085

1 person was seriously injured.

An in-flight encounter with turbulence during cruise flight, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight's dispatch package included a current significant meteorological warning for occasional severe turbulence between 14,000 and 24,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The warning indicated that turbulence was reported by other flightcrews. The flight was dispatched with a cruise altitude of 13,000 feet msl due to the turbulence. According to the operator, based on a discussion with an air traffic controller the captain then changed the flight's cruise altitude to 15,000 feet msl to avoid turbulence. The seat belt sign was illuminated during the entire flight. During the beginning of the flight attendant's service, the aircraft experienced light turbulence. Halfway through the service, the aircraft experienced moderate turbulence. The flight attendant locked the cart and took a seat. The moderate turbulence dissipated after about a minute and the flight attendant completed the service. Following the service, the flight attendant was standing by the forward wardrobe closet and was thrown up into the ceiling and back to the floor. She sustained serious injury when she broke her nose and fractured her left wrist. A seated five foot nine inch passenger was observed to have a six-inch gap between the overhead passenger service unit and the passenger's head. Three of the passenger service units sustained damage consistent with the passenger's head impacting those units. Nine passengers reported minor injuries. However, all passengers had their seat belts fastened. A review of the flight data recorder data confirmed the upset.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.