Embraer 135 incident near Bangor, Massachusetts, January 19, 2004
On January 19, 2004 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Embraer 135, registered N734EK, suffered minor damage in an incident near Bangor, Massachusetts. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 40 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Severe wear of the internal threads of the rudder interconnection contol rod which led to disengagement.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 2004 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Bangor, Massachusetts
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 40 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer 135
- Registration
- N734EK · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
American Eagle Embraer 135, N734EK, experienced an uncommanded rudder deflection after takeoff from Bangor, Maine. The flight crew returned to Bangor and landed the airplane uneventfully. There were 35 passengers and 3 crew members on board. Inspection of the airplane after the incident revealed a failed rudder interconnect rod. Examination of the failed components in the NTSB Materials Lab revealed that the internal threads of the interconnect rod were worn.
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
Pilot
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Simmons Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KBGR Bangor MA at 9:20 pm
- Destination: KBOS Boston MA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.21 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 37 |
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.