Amateur-built DHC8 accident near Baltimore, Maryland, May 16, 2011
On May 16, 2011 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC8, registered N351NG, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Baltimore, Maryland. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2011 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC8 402
- Registration
- N351NG · no longer on the register · serial 4351
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 16, 2011, at about 1830 eastern daylight time, Pinnacle Airlines flight 3621, a DHC-8-402, N351NG, encountered severe turbulence while descending through about 14,000 feet while on initial approach to Ronald Regan National Airport (KDCA), Washington, District of Columbia. One flight attendant received a serious injury and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Newark International Airport (KEWR), Newark, New Jersey to KDCA. According to the operator, the flight crew had not received any PIREPS or NOTAMS of forecasted turbulence and the flight attendants (FAs) had just stowed the galley service carts when the turbulence was encountered. One FA was thrown to the floor injuring her foot. The flight attendant was assisted to a passenger seat where ice was administered to her swollen foot. Paramedics met the flight upon landing and transported the injured flight attendant to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fracture in her right foot.
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 (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,711 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 275 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 7, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 65,200 lb
- Seats: 79
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt And Whitney PW 150A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt And Whitney PW 150A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Colgan Air Inc
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 3:51 pm
- Destination: DCA Washington DC
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.