Embraer ERJ 170 100 SE accident near Raleigh, North Carolina, January 3, 2016
On January 3, 2016 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2005 Embraer ERJ 170 100 SE, registered N643RW, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Raleigh, North Carolina. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 71 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an encounter with turbulence resulting in a serious injury 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
- January 3, 2016 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Raleigh, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 71 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer ERJ 170 100 SE 100SE, built 2005 · all ERJ 170 100 SEs on the register
- Registration
- N643RW · no longer on the register · serial 17000060
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to crew statements, the flight crew briefed the flight attendants (FA) that turbulence was forecast for the flight and that they would keep them updated throughout. During the first portion of the flight, the flight encountered light turbulence and occasional moderate turbulence several times and the flight crew made public address (PA) announcements each time. Later, the flight encountered unexpected turbulence and the flight crew immediately turned on the fasten seatbelt sign and made a PA announcement. During that time, a FA was stowing a beverage cart in the aft galley, and the turbulence caused the cart to bump the FAs hand. The FA continued to perform her duties and the flight landed uneventfully. The next day, the FAs hand was painful and swollen and she was diagnosed with a broken wrist.
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 (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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,534 hours in all; 6,239 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 24, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,300 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 15, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 74
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Ge CF34 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Shuttle America CORP
The flight
- Departed from: KPBI Palm Beach FL at 8:00 pm
- Destination: KEWR Newark NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from KRDU, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 68 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 25, 2016. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Crew Statements | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.