Bombardier CL-600-2B19 N8543F

Summary

On 4 August 2009 at about 22:15 local time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 registered N8543F, operated by Pinnacle Airlines Inc, was involved in an accident near Louisville, Kentucky, United States. 27 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 August 2009 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Coordinates

38.1758, -85.7369

Aircraft

Bombardier CL-600-2B19

Registration

N8543F

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Pinnacle Airlines Inc

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Knoxville → Detroit

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA09CA069

1 person was seriously injured.

an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On August 4, 2009, at about 1715 CDT, Pinnacle Airlines flight 2871, a Bombardier CL 600-2B19, N8543F, from McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Detroit, Michigan, encounter severe turbulence during cruise at FL300.  Of the 50 passengers and 3 crew members onboard, one flight attendant (FA) received serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries.  According to the flight crew, the flight was going in and out of clouds and was using the weather radar and visual observations to detect cloud formations and precipitation.  The turbulence lasted about 10 seconds after entering a cloud formation. There was no radar indications of thunderstorms or precipitation when the turbulence was encountered.  No PIREPS had been reported for the area.  The FA was unable to continue her duties and directed a passenger on how to use the intercom to communicate with the flight crew.  The captain declared a medical emergency and the flight diverted into Louisville International Airport (SDF), Louisville, Kentucky. Emergency services personnel met the airplane at the gate and the passenger and flight attendant were transported to a local hospital.  The passenger was released with minor injuries but the flight attendant was diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae.    

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.