- Date
- June 16, 2018, 22:00 local (Jun 17, 2018, 04:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cut Bank, MT
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 72 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N637CZEmbraer ERJ175
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Night
- Status
- Completed · report July 8, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Case key
- 97980
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
an unexpected encounter with clear air turbulence.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
On June 16, 2018, about 2200 MDT, Compass Airlines flight 5774, N637CZ, Embraer 175, encountered turbulence while in cruise flight at flight level 300 while enroute to Calgary International Airport (CYYZ), Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Of the 73 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC), Salt Lake City, Utah to CYYZ. According to the flight crew, air traffic control (ATC) relayed pilot reports of a "smooth ride with light chop" for their route of flight. The airplane was in visual meteorological conditions and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. At the time of the turbulence encounter the aft flight attendant was finishing up beverage service and was thrown against the bulkhead and jumpseat. The flight attendant was unable to complete her duties due to the injury and two passengers assisted the flight attendant until landing. Upon arrival at the gate in CYYZ, the flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken vertebra.
Factual narrative
On June 16, 2018, about 2200 MDT, Compass Airlines flight 5774, N637CZ, Embraer 175, encountered turbulence while in cruise flight at flight level 300 while enroute to Calgary International Airport (CYYZ), Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Of the 73 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC), Salt Lake City, Utah to CYYZ. According to the flight crew, air traffic control (ATC) relayed pilot reports of a "smooth ride with light chop" for their route of flight. The airplane was in visual meteorological conditions and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. At the time of the turbulence encounter the aft flight attendant was finishing up beverage service and was thrown against the bulkhead and jumpseat. The flight attendant was unable to complete her duties due to the injury and two passengers assisted the flight attendant until landing. Upon arrival at the gate in CYYZ, the flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken vertebra.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N637CZ
- Reported as
- Embraer ERJ175 (200)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17000256
- Built
- 2008
- Engines
- General Electric CF34-8E5, turbo fanGeneral Electric CF34-8E5, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Compass Airlines, doing business as Delta Connection
- Registered owner
- Delta Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- KSLC · Salt Lake City, UT
- Destination
- CYYC · Calgary
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Equipment
- Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot
Flight crew · 4
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 23, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 3,999 total · 2,074 in this make and model · 1,917 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 54 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 29, 2018
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 2,841 total · 1,207 in this make and model · 1,561 as pilot in command · 156 in the last 90 days · 54 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- Serious
- Role
- Cabin crew
- Injuries
- None
Weather
- Conditions
- Night
- Turbulence
- Moderate