Embraer EMB-120ER incident near San Angelo, Texas, August 12, 2000
On August 12, 2000 at about 6:03 pm local time, a Embraer EMB-120ER, registered N16718, was involved in an incident near San Angelo, Texas (San Angelo Regional airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person had minor injuries; 22 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the improper installation of the right elevator trim control wheel by company mechanics, which resulted in an elevator trim malfunction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2000 · about 6:03 pm local time
- Place
- San Angelo, Texas · San Angelo Regional · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 22 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-120ER · all EMB-120ERs on the register
- Registration
- N16718 · no longer on the register · serial 120136
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was descending through 14,500 feet when an uncommanded disconnect of the autopilot occurred, and the airplane "abruptly" pitched up from 5 degrees nose down to 15 degrees nose up (pitch reversion). Simultaneously, the captain and first officer applied forward pressure on their control columns to regain control of the airplane. The airplane was re-established in a descent and the flight crew found that the airplane was controllable in the landing configuration. Subsequently, the flight landed without further incident. Post incident examination of the airplane revealed that the right elevator trim control wheel was improperly installed. The installation allowed the autopilot trim servo to request nose down trim until the trim tab actuators had reached their physical limits. The autopilot trim servo continued to request nose down trim, loading the elevator trim system cables, until the autopilot disconnected. During the examination, it was also noted that the trim tab deflections and cable tensions did not meet manufacturer specifications. Review of maintenance records revealed two instances when the elevator pitch trim system underwent maintenance. On April 14, 1998, the right side elevator trim control wheel was removed and reinstalled "while aligning stop arm into wheel." Continental Express reported that the trim tabs were adjusted during the maintenance. On August 11, 2000, the following maintenance write-up was recorded in the aircraft flight log: "Elev trim will not go full forward, stops at two units." The flight log indicated that the following corrective action was taken; "Lubed trim wheel for elev trim." Continental Express reported that the trim wheel was not removed during this corrective action.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 8, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,811 hours in all; 815 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 2,340 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 11, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,727.4 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 26,609 lb
- Seats: 33
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PW-118 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Continental Express Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: IAH Houston TX at 4:45 pm
- Destination: SJT San Angelo TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from SJT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 2 | ||
| Passengers | 20 |
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.