Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de ERJ 170 200 LR accident near Columbus, Ohio, August 27, 2014
On August 27, 2014 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2008 Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de ERJ 170 200 LR, registered N204JQ, was involved in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Columbus, Ohio. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 55 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the capabilities of the beverage cart were exceeded which resulted in the cart toppling over and fracturing the flight attendant's foot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2014 · about 6:30 pm local time · cases in 2014
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 55 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de ERJ 170 200 LR 200LR, built 2008
- Registration
- N204JQ · registry record · serial 17000243
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to flight attendant (FA) statements, the airplane was climbing to cruise altitude in smooth air. While preparing for meal service, a FA pulled out a beverage cart from its stowed position in the aft galley and it immediately toppled over onto the foot of another FA that was in area. The injured FA was unable to continue her duties and the flight diverted to a closer airport without further incident. The flight attendant was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with an open fracture of her right foot. There were no reported malfunctions or failures with the beverage cart.
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
- Cabin safety event during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Equipment/furnishings › Flight compartment equipment › Capability exceeded other cases naming the cabin, seats and restraints
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,616 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 31, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,421 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 16, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,650 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Seats: 80
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 12,856 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 22,970 hours total
- Operator: Shuttle America CORP
The flight
- Departed from: KDCA Washington DC at 10:10 pm
- Destination: KOMA Omaha NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KOKV, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 52 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 2, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Attendant's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N204JQ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: General Electric CF34-8E5 698 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: General Electric CF34-8E5 698 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport · departed from
- Eppley Airfield · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Ohio 1,884 since 1982 · 253 in the last ten years
- Ohio 8,528 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DCA14CA155.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.