Embraer EMB-145LR incident near Chicago, Illinois, March 13, 2010
On March 13, 2010, a Embraer EMB-145LR, registered N16561, suffered minor damage in an incident during approach (IFR final approach) near Chicago, Illinois (Chicago O'Hare Iap airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 45 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight encounter with lightning. Contributing to the incident was the damaged and displaced tailcone bulkhead frame that inhibited the full travel of the elevator during approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2010
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Chicago O'Hare Iap · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 45 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-145LR · all EMB-145LRs on the register
- Registration
- N16561 · no longer on the register · serial 145610
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane received minor damage when it sustained a lightning strike while on approach. The flightcrew subsequently encountered elevator control binding, although they were able to land without further incident. Both flightcrew members indicated that the control yoke could be manipulated in the aft direction, but that it would not move forward past about 60-percent deflection. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the tailcone was damaged. Examination of the damage disclosed that the tailcone's light assembly wiring harness and its respective overbraid shielding were thermally damaged. A bulkhead frame was dislodged from its location due to the thermal damage present on the wiring harness. The dislodged bulkhead came to rest on the elevator's bellcrank, which restricted the flightcrew's ability to control the elevator. Subsequent to the incident, the airplane's manufacturer redesigned the tailcone. The new design incorporates a light assembly secured to the tip of the tailcone by an aluminum retaining strap. In this design four diverters are installed on the exterior tailcone skin which are electrically bonded to the metallic retaining strap of the light assembly and to the metallic bonding plate installed in each side of the fairing.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during approach (IFR final approach)
- Flight control sys malf/fail during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Lightning › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Design
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,930 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 17, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 76 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 23, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,973 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 10, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 50,044 lb
- Seats: 50
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce AE 3007A1P (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce AE 3007A1P (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Expressjet Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: GSP Greer SC at 10:50 pm
- Destination: ORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4 R, 8,075 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 010° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 42 |
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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.