Embraer ERJ-135ER N25504

Summary

On 30 August 2001 at about 19:55 local time, a Embraer ERJ-135ER registered N25504 was involved in an accident near Richmond, Virginia, United States. 29 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 August 2001 at 19:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Richmond, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Richmond International (RIC)

Coordinates

37.5000, -77.3167

Aircraft

Embraer ERJ-135ER

Registration

N25504

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cleveland → Richmond

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD01LA102

1 person was seriously injured.

Inadequate company procedures/directives, which resulted in the flight attendant leaving her seat prematurely, while the airplane was still in an area of turbulence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was on autopilot in instrument meteorological conditions, descending through 17,000 feet at 280 knots. It was being operated in an area of convective activity, with cells about 20 nautical miles on either side of the flight path. There were no radar echoes in the path of flight. The captain notified the flight attendant that the "ride may be bumpy," and had her sit down. The seat belt sign was illuminated, and a general announcement about potential turbulence was made. Approximately 10 minutes after the announcement, severe turbulence was encountered. The flight attendant, who had gotten up after thinking the area of turbulence had passed, was then seriously injured. There was no specific guidance in the company's flight operations manual about seating cabin crewmembers in anticipation of turbulence. As a result of the investigation, and after coordination with the senior manager of flight safety for the airline, guidance was published that included a requirement that cabin crewmembers remain seated until advised by the captain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.