Embraer S A ERJ170-200LR accident near Hemphill, Texas, August 22, 2014
On August 22, 2014 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 2014 Embraer S A ERJ170-200LR, registered N421YX, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Hemphill, Texas. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 52 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's inadvertent encounter with wake turbulence during cruise flight, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2014 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hemphill, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 52 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer S A ERJ170-200LR 200LR, built 2014 · all ERJ170-200LRs on the register
- Registration
- N421YX · registry record · serial 17000386
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While cruising in smooth air conditions with no clouds in the area and with the autopilot on and the seat belt sign off the airplane had a brief encounter with what the flight crew described as wake turbulence. The momentary turbulence resulted in a sharp roll deviation of about 15 to 20 degrees. The turbulence lasted for less than five seconds then returned to smooth air conditions. One of the two flight attendants who had been standing in the rear galley was seriously injured and the other flight attendant sustained a minor injury. No significant turbulence had been forecast, and the flight crew had not overheard any airplanes in the area reporting turbulence. Immediately after the encounter, the airplane continued in smooth air conditions.
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
- Aircraft wake turb encounter during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Wake turbulence › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 68 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 24, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,030 hours in all; 4,002 in this make and model; 224 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 798 as pilot in command; 291 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 19, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,581 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 17, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 85,870 lb
- Seats: 76
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF-34/8E5 (turbofan); 1,581 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF-34/8E5 (turbofan); 1,581 hours total
- Operator: Republic Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: ORD Chicago IL
- Destination: IAH Houston TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 50 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on November 28, 2014. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.