Embraer EMB-135LR accident near Newark, New Jersey, July 24, 2006
On July 24, 2006 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Embraer EMB-135LR, registered N703MR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newark, New Jersey (Newark Liberty International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 16 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The captain's failure to follow company procedures, which resulted in pushback with the parking brake set. A factor was the larger than preferred tug.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2006 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, New Jersey · Newark Liberty International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 16 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-135LR · all EMB-135LRs on the register
- Registration
- N703MR · registry record · serial 145173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During pushback, the airplane skidded approximately 14 inches, and sustained damage to the forward pressure bulkhead, forward longerons, and nose landing gear. Both flightcrew reported that the parking brake was released prior to pushback; however, review of the cockpit voice recorder did not reveal any reference to the parking brake being released. In addition, the captain and guideperson used non-standard phraseology when discussing the pushback. A larger and more powerful tug was used for pushback, rather than the preferred tugs for regional jet aircraft. The make and model tug used for the pushback was approved, with caution, at stations where a preferred tug was not available, such as the accident station on the day of the accident.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,554 hours in all; 1,134 in this make and model; 1,446 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,409 hours in all; 134 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,720 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 1, 2006; 309 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 44,312 lb
- Seats: 41
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce AE 3007 A1/3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce AE 3007 A1/3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 5:00 pm
- Destination: BOS Boston MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from EWR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 13 |
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.