Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR N604CZ

Summary

On 15 November 2010 at about 17:45 local time, a Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR registered N604CZ, operated by Compass Airlines, LLC, was involved in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. 80 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 November 2010 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Minneapolis-St. Paul Intl (KMSP)

Coordinates

44.9275, -93.3036

Aircraft

Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR

Registration

N604CZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Compass Airlines, LLC

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minneapolis → Missoula

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA072

Nobody was injured.

The in-flight collision with a flock of birds during climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The regional jet collided with a flock of large birds shortly after takeoff as it climbed through 5,000 feet mean sea level. The flight crew reported that, although there were no observed flight control or engine anomalies, they elected to return to the departure airport and the captain subsequently completed an uneventful visual approach and landing. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the radar dome and its underlying structural components. The forward pressure bulkhead web contained a dent and puncture. The left engine compressor section exhibited damage that was consistent with a bird strike.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.