Aerospatiale ATR 42-320 accident near Yardley, Pennsylvania, October 13, 2001
On October 13, 2001 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Aerospatiale ATR 42-320, registered N34820, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yardley, Pennsylvania (Newark International Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 29 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an in flight collision with birds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2001 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yardley, Pennsylvania · Newark International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 29 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale ATR 42-320
- Registration
- N34820 · no longer on the register · serial 159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight at 5,000 feet, the flight crew experienced a loud bang and subsequent roll and yaw of the airplane. They also experienced severe buffeting and the autopilot disengaged. The flight crew then observed that the number two power lever was jammed in a 68 percent torque position, and the airplane was unstable about the roll axis. After the airplane landed uneventfully, maintenance personnel and a FAA inspector observed two large bird strikes to the right wing. There was damage to the right wing spar cap, outer spar, ribs, and lower skin aft of the spar. Additionally, the inspector noted damage to the area of center section control pulleys, and that the number two engine throttle control pulley was broken.
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: 2,900 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 7, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 205 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 17, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 25,977 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 3, 2001; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 37,258 lb
- Seats: 49
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W PW121 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W PW121 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Continental Express Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: ORF Norfolk VA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: EWR Newark NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22L, 9,980 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from PNE, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 26 |
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.