Embraer EMB-145LR accident near Chicago, Illinois, December 29, 2012
On December 29, 2012 at about 2:32 am local time, a Embraer EMB-145LR, registered N619AE, was involved in an accident during initial climb near Chicago, Illinois. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 49 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The presence of deice fluid on the floor, which resulted in a slip hazard and an injury to the flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 2012 · about 2:32 am local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 49 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-145LR · all EMB-145LRs on the register
- Registration
- N619AE · registry record · serial 145101
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure, the flight attendant stood up from her jumpseat to begin beverage service. She slipped in the main cabin door floor area and injured her left arm. The flight attendant was unable to perform her crew duties; however, an airline pilot, who was a passenger on the flight, assisted in maintaining cabin safety. The flight attendant reported that there was deicing fluid on the floor, which made the surface slippery. Deice fluid was present on the ramp areas surrounding 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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › (general) › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,575 hours in all; 6,946 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 3, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31,998 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 28, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 49,823 lb
- Seats: 50
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Eagle Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KORD Chicago IL at 2:32 am
- Destination: KTVC Traverse City MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; ovct at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from KORD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 47 |
Other NTSB records under N619AE 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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CEN13CA117.