Embraer EMB-135LR accident near Raleigh, North Carolina, March 20, 2005
On March 20, 2005 at about 4:48 pm local time, a Embraer EMB-135LR, registered N733KR, was involved in an accident near Raleigh, North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham Int'L Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 31 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An oily smell in the airplane shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons that resulted in a return to the airport and a passenger injury during the emergency evacuation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2005 · about 4:48 pm local time
- Place
- Raleigh, North Carolina · Raleigh-Durham Int'L Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 31 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-135LR · all EMB-135LRs on the register
- Registration
- N733KR · no longer on the register · serial 145-368
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the captain, shortly after takeoff there was a foul oil smell spreading throughout the cockpit and cabin. The captain declared an emergency and returned to Raleigh Durham International Airport. The flight was cleared for an approach to and an emergency landing on runway 23R. After the airplane stopped on the runway, the captain ordered an emergency evacuation of the airplane. The flight attendant opened the passenger cabin door and the forward galley door and passengers evacuated the airplane. During the evacuation, one passenger received serious injuries. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical defects. The engine and auxiliary power unit oil levels were checked and found to be satisfactory and contained no sign of leaks. Maintenance personnel checked several areas for offensive odors and signs of bleed air leaks and found no bleed air leaks or odor of oil in the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,896 hours in all; 1,452 in this make and model; 3,401 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,870 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 1, 2005; 411 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 42,549 lb
- Seats: 40
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce AE 3007-A13 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce AE 3007-A13 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDU Raleigh NC at 4:00 pm
- Destination: EWR Newark NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from RDU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 28 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N733KR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL05LA065.