Boeing 737-832 and Embraer EMB-145LR incident near Covington, Kentucky, December 9, 2010
On December 9, 2010 at about 4:25 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-832 (N3731T) and Embraer EMB-145LR (N840HK), were involved in the same incident near Covington, Kentucky (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky I airport). No one was hurt; 92 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The local controller's distraction with a helicopter south of the field.
The local controller's distraction with a helicopter south of the field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 2010 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Covington, Kentucky · Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky I · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 92 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-832 · all 737-832s on the register
- Registration
- N3731T · registry record · serial 30775
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Embraer EMB-145LR · all EMB-145LRs on the register
- Registration
- N840HK · no longer on the register · serial 145341
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737-832 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Boeing B737 was instructed to line up and wait on the runway while a helicopter crossed the proposed departure path at a low level four miles south of the airport. After the helicopter conflict was resolved, the B737 was issued takeoff clearance, but contrary to Federal Aviation Administration requirements, the B737 was not advised of the E-145 on approach to the same runway. Less than ½ nautical mile on short final, the E-145 queried the tower local controller if they should go around. About the same time, the Airport Movement Area Safety System alerted. Prior to the E-145 crossing the landing threshold, and as the B737 began its takeoff roll, the tower local controller instructed the E-145 to go around. The E-145 did not overfly the B737 and there was no loss of separation.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Embraer EMB-145LR final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Boeing B737 was instructed to line up and wait on the runway while a helicopter crossed the proposed departure path at a low level four miles south of the airport. After the helicopter conflict was resolved, the B737 was issued takeoff clearance, but contrary to Federal Aviation Administration requirements, the B737 was not advised of the E-145 on approach to the same runway. Less than ½ nautical mile on short final, the E-145 queried the tower local controller if they should go around. About the same time, the Airport Movement Area Safety System alerted. Prior to the E-145 crossing the landing threshold, and as the B737 began its takeoff roll, the tower local controller instructed the E-145 to go around. The E-145 did not overfly the B737 and there was no loss of separation.
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 for the Boeing 737-832 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Air traffic event during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › ATC personnel
The aircraft
- Seats: 189
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: CVG Covington KY at 4:25 pm
- Destination: KFLL Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18C, 11,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from KCVG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 87 |
The factual record for the Embraer EMB-145LR from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Air traffic event during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › ATC personnel
The aircraft
- Seats: 55
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royc AE3007 SER (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royc AE3007 SER (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Trans States Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: ORD Chicago IL at 3:40 pm
- Destination: CVG Covington KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18C, 11,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
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.
Other NTSB records under N3731T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.