Saab-Scania SAAB 340B accident near Bradley, Illinois, April 6, 2010
On April 6, 2010, a Saab-Scania SAAB 340B, registered N437XJ, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Bradley, Illinois. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 30 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flightcrew's encounter with convectively induced turbulence associated with a convective cloud during the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2010 · cases in 2010
- Place
- Bradley, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 30 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Saab-Scania SAAB 340B · all SAAB 340Bs on the register
- Registration
- N437XJ · not in the FAA's current or past register files · serial 340B437
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane entered a cumulus or convective cloud system and encountered moderate to severe turbulence as it approached its destination. The single flight attendant in the cabin hit her head on the cabin roof and then fell, fracturing her tail bone. The flight attendant was able to complete her duties and sought medical assistance after landing.
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
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 7, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,320 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 23, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 29,000 lb
- Seats: 38
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CT7-SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CT7-SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mesaba Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: DTW Detroit MI at 11:27 pm
- Destination: PIA Peoria IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 28 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 1, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Attendant Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- Saab-Scania SAAB 340 42 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Saab-Scania 49 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Ge CT7-SER 69 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Ge CT7-SER 69 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Detroit Metro Wayne County · departed from
- General Downing - Peoria International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Illinois 2,118 since 1982 · 251 in the last ten years
- Illinois 8,072 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN10LA218.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.