Embraer EMB170 accident near Norfolk, Virginia, July 27, 2009
On July 27, 2009 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Embraer EMB170, registered N135HQ, was involved in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Norfolk, Virginia. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 85 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence that resulted in serious injuries 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
- July 27, 2009 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 85 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB170
- Registration
- N135HQ · registry record · serial 17000224
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain stated that while climbing through about FL220, the flight encountered turbulence while deviating around a convective cell. According to the flight attendant (FA), the turbulence occurred after the captain had "turned off the sterile cockpit" and she was preparing the beverage service with the lead FA. Both FAs were thrown to the floor with one FA falling on top of the other. As a result, one FA suffered a broken bone in her left foot and the other received minor injuries. The operator stated that the seat belt was illuminated at the time of the turbulence.
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
- Turbulence encounter during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
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: 6,110 hours in all; 3,968 in this make and model; 251 in the last 90 days; 92 in the last 30 days; 3,060 as pilot in command; 1,014 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 8, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,874 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 1,292 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,111 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 27, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 85,717 lb
- Seats: 90
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Republic Airlines Inc.,
The flight
- Departed from: ORF Norfolk VA at 8:46 pm
- Destination: CLT Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 83 |
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.