Embraer ERJ170 and Airbus A319 accident near Washington, District of Columbia, February 17, 2008
On February 17, 2008 at about 3:19 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Embraer ERJ170 (N828MD) and Airbus A319 (N752US), were involved in the same accident near Washington, District of Columbia (Washington Reagan airport). No one was hurt; 132 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadequate ground separation maintained by the pilot of the Embraer E170.
Inadequate ground separation maintained by the pilot of the Embraer E170.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 2008 · about 3:19 pm local time
- Place
- Washington, District of Columbia · Washington Reagan · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 132 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Embraer ERJ170 100LR · all ERJ170s on the register
- Registration
- N828MD · no longer on the register · serial UNK
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Airbus A319 111 · all A319s on the register
- Registration
- N752US · registry record · serial 1319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Embraer ERJ170 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 17, 2008, at 1019 EST, an Embraer E170, N828MD, operated by Republic Airlines as flight 3416 destined to Rochester, NY, collided during taxi in the runup area of taxiway J at the north end of runway 19, with an Airbus 319, N752US, operated by US Airways as flight 2166 destined to New York LaGuardia airport. The right aileron of the Airbus was substantially damaged, the left winglet of the Embraer had minor damage. There were no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot of the E170 reported that he was positioned to the right of the Airbus, and observed a B737 approaching the runup area from taxiway J to his right. ATC cleared the Republic flight for departure, which required them to taxi past the Airbus. The captain stated that he checked the proximity of the Airbus, and it looked like he could clear it and then felt the impact. The captain notified ATC of the collision. Airport fire crews responded, but there was no fuel leak or fire. The crew of the Airbus reported that they were stationary with the parking brake applied while awaiting ATC clearance.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Airbus A319 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 17, 2008, at 1019 EST, an Embraer E170, N828MD, operated by Republic Airlines as flight 3416 destined to Rochester, NY, collided during taxi in the runup area of taxiway J at the north end of runway 19, with an Airbus 319, N752US, operated by US Airways as flight 2166 destined to New York LaGuardia airport. The right aileron of the Airbus was substantially damaged, the left winglet of the Embraer had minor damage. There were no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot of the E170 reported that he was positioned to the right of the Airbus, and observed a B737 approaching the runup area from taxiway J to his right. ATC cleared the Republic flight for departure, which required them to taxi past the Airbus. The captain stated that he checked the proximity of the Airbus, and it looked like he could clear it and then felt the impact. The captain notified ATC of the collision. Airport fire crews responded, but there was no fuel leak or fire. The crew of the Airbus reported that they were stationary with the parking brake applied while awaiting ATC clearance.
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 for the Embraer ERJ170 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,125 hours in all; 1,655 in this make and model; 225 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 7,915 as pilot in command; 1,565 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 30, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,532 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 529 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 21, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,471 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, February 15, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 82,310 lb
- Seats: 81
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF-34-8ES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF34 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Republic Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KDCA Washington DC
- Destination: KROC Rochester NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 6,869 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from KDCA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | |||
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 76 |
The factual record for the Airbus A319 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,005 hours in all; 3,294 in this make and model; 97 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 1,967 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,285 hours in all; 953 in this make and model; 198 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,587 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 19, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 166,447 lb
- Seats: 130
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm CFM-56-5B6 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm CFM56 5B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: US Airways INC
The flight
- Departed from: KDCA Washington DC at 3:19 pm
- Destination: KLGA Laguardia NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 6,869 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 46 |
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.