Embraer EMB-500 accident near Gaithersburg, Maryland, December 8, 2014
On December 8, 2014 at about 3:41 pm local time, a 2009 Embraer EMB-500, registered N100EQ, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Gaithersburg, Maryland (Montgomery County Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's conduct of an approach in structural icing conditions without turning on the airplane's wing and horizontal stabilizer deice system, leading to ice accumulation on those surfaces, and without using the appropriate landing performance speeds for the weather conditions and airplane weight, as indicated in the airplane's standard operating procedures, which together resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude at which a recovery was not possible.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 2014 · about 3:41 pm local time
- Place
- Gaithersburg, Maryland · Montgomery County Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-500, built 2009 · all EMB-500s on the register
- Registration
- N100EQ · no longer on the register · serial 50000082
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The NTSB's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-16/01. On December 8, 2014, about 1041 eastern standard time, an Embraer EMB-500 airplane (marketed as the Phenom 100), N100EQ, registered to and operated by Sage Aviation LLC, crashed while on approach to runway 14 at Montgomery County Airpark (GAI), Gaithersburg, Maryland. The airplane impacted three houses and the ground about 3/4 mile from the approach end of the runway. A postcrash fire involving the airplane and one of the three houses, which contained three occupants, ensued. The pilot, the two passengers, and the three people in the house died as a result of the accident. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The flight was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
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
- Structural icing during enroute (descent)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (IFR final approach)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › (general) › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Loading › (general) › Related operating info
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › (general) › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Airfoil anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › (general) › Not installed/available
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,736.5 hours in all; 135.8 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 28, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 633.8 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 14, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 10,472 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW617F-E (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW617F-E (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Sage Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: IGX Chapel Hill NC at 2:45 pm
- Destination: GAI Gaithersburg MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 4,202 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,200 ft; a few clouds at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.61 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from GAI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DCA15MA029.