Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 15, 2010
On November 15, 2010 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR, registered N604CZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul Intl airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 80 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight collision with a flock of birds during climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2010 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Minneapolis-St. Paul Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 80 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR · all ERJ 170-200 LRs on the register
- Registration
- N604CZ · registry record · serial 17000181
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Birdstrike during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,085 hours in all; 2,087 in this make and model; 177 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 4,287 as pilot in command; 427 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 30, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,393 hours in all; 1,554 in this make and model; 202 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 1,516 as pilot in command; 858 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 23, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,540 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 13, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 81,274 lb
- Seats: 80
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF34-8E5601 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Compass Airlines, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KMSP Minneapolis MN at 5:37 pm
- Destination: KMSO Missoula MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30R, 8,200 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KMSP, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 76 |
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 N604CZ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.