Embraer ERJ170 accident near Taneytown, Maryland, December 3, 2022
On December 3, 2022 at about 9:11 pm local time, a 2017 Embraer ERJ170, registered N85356, was involved in an accident during approach near Taneytown, Maryland. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 67 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with turbulence during descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2022 · about 9:11 pm local time
- Place
- Taneytown, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 67 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer ERJ170 200LR, built 2017 · all ERJ170s on the register
- Registration
- N85356 · registry record · serial 17000692
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Mesa Airlines flight 6048 encountered turbulence at 10,000 ft during descent into Dulles International Airport (IAD), Chantilly, Virgina. As a result of the turbulence, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The airplane landed without further incident. The flight originated from LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), New York, New York. According to the flight crew, while descending on the HYPER EIGHT arrival, the air traffic controller advised their airplane was following a “heavy jet” and asked if a 7-mile separation would be sufficient. The captain asked for a 10-mile separation, which was granted, and the controller provided vectors to increase the spacing between the two airplanes. The crew could not see the other airplane visually, nor could they determine its location using the traffic collision avoidance system. During the descent, as the airplane crossed the HYPER intersection at 10,000 ft and 250 knots, it encountered moderate turbulence described as a “rapid jolt” while in instrument meteorological conditions. At the time, the seatbelt sign was on, and the two flight attendants along with another commuting flight attendant, were standing in the aft galley. The turbulence resulted in all three of them being “tossed about and hit the floor.” One flight attendant sustained a broken ankle. The flight crew declared a medical emergency and notified dispatch of the event. The commuting flight attendant assumed the duties for the injured flight attendant. The remainder of the fight was uneventful, and paramedics met the airplane at the gate and transported the injured flight attendant to the hospital. According to the operator, the flight crew was not aware of any forecast turbulence in the area or reports of turbulence encounters by other pilots (PIREPS).
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 approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Illness/injury › Cabin crew
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,479 hours in all; 1,770 in this make and model; 225 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 16,261 as pilot in command; 6,564 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 28, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,743 hours in all; 269 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 1,366 as pilot in command; 1,162 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 17, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,495 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 25, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 85,517 lb
- Seats: 80
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mesa Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: LGA New York NY at 8:25 pm
- Destination: IAD Chantilly VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:10 pm from KDMW, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDMW 032110Z AUTO 24010KT 10SM SCT033 SCT050 BKN055 16/12 A3002 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 64 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 12, 2024. 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 | List of Notices to Air Missions (Notams) Provided by Operator | PDF, 33 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Crew Statements | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Additional Notification Information | PDF, 1 page | 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.