Embraer EMB-145XR accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, August 10, 2010
On August 10, 2010 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Embraer EMB-145XR, registered N14105, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 50 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 a bird while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern during a visual approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2010 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 50 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-145XR · all EMB-145XRs on the register
- Registration
- N14105 · registry record · serial 145649
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for the destination airport, the flying pilot transferred his focus from the instrument panel to outside the airplane. Immediately thereafter, he noticed a flock/formation of large birds directly ahead. With the airplane in such close proximity of the birds, he had no time to take evasive action. One of the birds impacted the airplane just aft of the nose cone. The bird, which was later tentatively identified as a White Pelican, penetrated the airplane's skin and entered the forward avionics bay. Neither flightcrew member had seen the birds in time for evasive action to be taken.
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
- Birdstrike during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,471 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,587 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 6, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,070 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 6, 2010
- Seats: 55
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royc AE3007 SER (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royc AE3007 SER (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Express Jet Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: KIAH Houston TX at 4:36 pm
- Destination: KSLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KSLC, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 46 |
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.