Embraer S.A. ERJ 170-200 LR accident near Hilton Head, South Carolina, August 5, 2012
On August 5, 2012 at about 1:12 pm local time, a Embraer S.A. ERJ 170-200 LR, registered N134HQ, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 75 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger’s failure to adhere to flight and cabin crewmembers’ instructions to remain seated in anticipation of adverse weather and turbulence along the airplane’s flight path.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2012 · about 1:12 pm local time
- Place
- Hilton Head, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 75 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Embraer S.A. ERJ 170-200 LR
- Registration
- N134HQ · registry record · serial 17000220
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an en route descent, the flight crew noted adverse weather ahead and illuminated the fasten seatbelt sign. Immediately afterward, a flight attendant made a passenger announcement advising that the seatbelt sign was illuminated. Although the seatbelt sign was illuminated, an elderly passenger, who was unable to use the restroom before boarding the accident flight, left her seat for the lavatory. While the passenger was out of her seat, the flight encountered what the captain later reported to be about 2 to 3 seconds of light to moderate turbulence. The standing passenger fell to the floor and was injured. The flight crew arranged for medical personnel and equipment to meet the airplane at its destination airport. The flight continued and landed uneventfully, and the injured passenger was taken to a hospital for treatment of her injuries.
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 (descent) defining event
- Cabin safety event during enroute (descent)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Passenger
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: September 30, 2011
- 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; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: October 31, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,691 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 85,517 lb
- Seats: 84
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34-8E5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Republic Airlines, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PHL Philadelphia PA at 11:55 am
- Destination: JAX Jacksonville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from HXD, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 71 |
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.
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.