Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19 accident near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 3, 2012
On March 3, 2012 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19, registered N453AW, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Intl airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 49 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence during descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 2012 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania · Philadelphia Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 49 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19
- Registration
- N453AW · registry record · serial 7838
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 3, 2012, about 1720 eastern standard time, Air Wisconsin 3733, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N453AW, experienced turbulence during descent into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 50 passengers and crew onboard the airplane, one flight attendant received serious injuries and the airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio to PHL. According to the flight crew, as the airplane was descending through about 17,000 feet, the flight initially experienced light turbulence so the flight crew turned on the seatbelt sign. Shortly after, the airplane experienced severe clear air turbulence that caused the airplane to drop at least 300 feet. At the time of the turbulence, the flight attendant (FA) was in the galley securing the beverage cart and was thrown to the ceiling and onto the floor injuring her back. The FA was assisted into her jumpseat by a passenger. The flight crew declared an emergency with ATC and requested emergency personnel meet the airplane at the gate. After landing, the FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a fracture of her L-1 vertebrae.
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; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,732 hours in all; 2,751 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 27, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,225 hours in all; 5,104 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 55
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Wisconsin Airlines CORP
The flight
- Departed from: CLE Cleveland OH
- Destination: PHL Philadelphia PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.60 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 47 |
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.