Embraer ERJ175 accident near Cut Bank, Montana, June 17, 2018
On June 17, 2018 at about 4:00 am local time, a 2008 Embraer ERJ175, registered N637CZ, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Cut Bank, Montana. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 72 others were unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an unexpected 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
- June 17, 2018 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Cut Bank, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 72 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Embraer ERJ175 200, built 2008
- Registration
- N637CZ · no longer on the register · serial 17000256
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 16, 2018, about 2200 MDT, Compass Airlines flight 5774, N637CZ, Embraer 175, encountered turbulence while in cruise flight at flight level 300 while enroute to Calgary International Airport (CYYZ), Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Of the 73 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC), Salt Lake City, Utah to CYYZ. According to the flight crew, air traffic control (ATC) relayed pilot reports of a "smooth ride with light chop" for their route of flight. The airplane was in visual meteorological conditions and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. At the time of the turbulence encounter the aft flight attendant was finishing up beverage service and was thrown against the bulkhead and jumpseat. The flight attendant was unable to complete her duties due to the injury and two passengers assisted the flight attendant until landing. Upon arrival at the gate in CYYZ, the flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken vertebra.
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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Terrain induced turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,999 hours in all; 2,074 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 1,917 as pilot in command; 541 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 23, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,841 hours in all; 1,207 in this make and model; 156 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 1,561 as pilot in command; 458 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 29, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 89,853 lb
- Seats: 76
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 26,678 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 28,216 hours total
- Operator: Compass Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: KSLC Salt Lake City UT at 2:24 am
- Destination: CYYC Calgary
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 69 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.