# NTSB CEN11LA072: Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR, N604CZ, Minneapolis, MN, November 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 2010, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Minneapolis, MN - Coordinates: 44.927501, -93.303611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9275&lon=-93.3036&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 80 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Compass Airlines, Inc., Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77823 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77823/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77823 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA072 ## Probable cause The in-flight collision with a flock of birds during climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=3260121), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=3260121), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The regional jet collided with a flock of large birds shortly after takeoff as it climbed through 5,000 feet mean sea level. The flight crew reported that, although there were no observed flight control or engine anomalies, they elected to return to the departure airport and the captain subsequently completed an uneventful visual approach and landing. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the radar dome and its underlying structural components. The forward pressure bulkhead web contained a dent and puncture. The left engine compressor section exhibited damage that was consistent with a bird strike. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 2010, at 1145 central standard time, an Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR regional jet, registration number N604CZ, operated by Compass Airlines as flight 5887, collided with a flock of birds shortly after departing the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (KMSP), Minneapolis, Minnesota. The airplane was substantially damaged during the collision with the birds. The pilot, co-pilot, two flight attendants, and 76 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 while on an instrument flight plan. The flight's intended destination was Missoula, Montana, but the flight diverted back to KMSP after the collision without further incident. According to a report filed by the operator, the flight had departed runway 30R and was climbing through 5,000 feet mean sea level at 250 knots when the airplane collided with a flock of large birds. The flight crew reported that after the collision there were no anomalies with the flight controls, but the autothrottle system had disengaged. The engine indication/crew alerting system (EICAS) indicated a failure of the forward cockpit voice recorder and forward flight data recorder. There were no engine or pressurization error codes reported by the EICAS. The first officer's primary flight display had alert flags for the indicated airspeed and altitude parameters. The flight crew elected to return to the departure airport since the extent of damage was unknown. The captain subsequently completed an uneventful visual approach and landing to runway 30L. A postaccident inspection of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the radar dome and its underlining structural components. The forward pressure bulkhead web contained a dent and puncture. The left engine compressor section exhibited damage that was consistent with a bird strike. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N604CZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N604CZ), registered now, S/N 17000181, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EMBRAER ERJ 170-200 LR - Registry model: [Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-empresa-brasileira-de-erj-170-200-lr) (registry code 3260121) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34-8E5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-8e5) (registry code 30061, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17000181 - Airframe hours: 8540 - Engines: General Electric CF34-8E5601 13420 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34-8E5 13420 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Compass Airlines, LLC, doing business as Delta Connectiton - Registered owner: Delta Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 13, 2010 - Departed: KMSP, Minneapolis, MN - Destination: KMSO, Missoula, MT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KMSP, Minneapolis-St. Paul Intl, runway 30R, 8,200 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 8,085 total, 2,087 in this make and model, 4,287 as pilot in command, 177 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 4,393 total, 1,554 in this make and model, 1,516 as pilot in command, 202 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: KMSP, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20101115052079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101115052079A), Nov 15, 2010: Embraer-Emp ERJ 170-200, Minneapolis, MN, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed 30R at msp, during climb out at 5000 ft and 250 KIAS the aicraft struck a large bird. Intitial impact was on the lower left quadrant of the… ## Other investigations on N604CZ (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB OPS25LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OPS25LA052), Jul 19, 2025: Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170-200 LR (N604CZ), Minot, ND, incident, no damage, investigation ongoing ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 18, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77823. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 577 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Damage Summary Provided by Compass Airlines (item 2, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%20Summary%20Provided%20by%20Compass%20Airlines-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 3, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.