# NTSB DCA23LA090: Embraer ERJ170, N85356, Taneytown, MD, December 3, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 3, 2022, 16:11 local (21:11 UTC)
- Place: Taneytown, MD · Lat/Long = Published location of HYPER fix, nearest town = Taneytown MD, 3 NM SE
- Coordinates: 39.683933, -77.225094 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6839&lon=-77.2251&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 67 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: FAA/AVP
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106414
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA23LA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106414/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106414
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23LA090

## Probable cause

An encounter with turbulence during descent.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Impairment/incapacitation: illness/injury](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010): Personnel issues › Physical · Cabin crew; cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010/cases.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012010/cases.md)
- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)
- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)
- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3260415), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Mesa Airlines flight 6048 encountered turbulence at 10,000 ft during descent into Dulles International Airport (IAD), Chantilly, Virgina. As a result of the turbulence, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The airplane landed without further incident. The flight originated from LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), New York, New York. According to the flight crew, while descending on the HYPER EIGHT arrival, the air traffic controller advised their airplane was following a “heavy jet” and asked if a 7-mile separation would be sufficient. The captain asked for a 10-mile separation, which was granted, and the controller provided vectors to increase the spacing between the two airplanes. The crew could not see the other airplane visually, nor could they determine its location using the traffic collision avoidance system. During the descent, as the airplane crossed the HYPER intersection at 10,000 ft and 250 knots, it encountered moderate turbulence described as a “rapid jolt” while in instrument meteorological conditions. At the time, the seatbelt sign was on, and the two flight attendants along with another commuting flight attendant, were standing in the aft galley. The turbulence resulted in all three of them being “tossed about and hit the floor.” One flight attendant sustained a broken ankle. The flight crew declared a medical emergency and notified dispatch of the event. The commuting flight attendant assumed the duties for the injured flight attendant. The remainder of the fight was uneventful, and paramedics met the airplane at the gate and transported the injured flight attendant to the hospital. According to the operator, the flight crew was not aware of any forecast turbulence in the area or reports of turbulence encounters by other pilots (PIREPS).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85356](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85356), registered now, S/N 17000692, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EMBRAER ERJ170 (200LR)
- Registry model: [Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-s-a-erj-170-200-lr) (registry code 3260415) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF34-8E5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-8e5) (registry code 30061, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17000692
- Year built: 2017
- Airframe hours: 7495
- Engines: GE CF34-8E5 14510 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34-8E5 14510 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Mesa Airlines
- Registered owner: United Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 25, 2022
- Departed: LGA, New York, NY
- Destination: IAD, Chantilly, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 20,479 total, 1,770 in this make and model, 16,261 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 17, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,743 total, 269 in this make and model, 1,366 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours
- Cabin crew; injuries: none
- Cabin crew; injuries: serious

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Moderate
- Observed at: KDMW, 11 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDMW 032110Z AUTO 24010KT 10SM SCT033 SCT050 BKN055 16/12 A3002 RMK AO2=

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106414. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16521619&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_DCA23LA090_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- List of notices to air missions (NOTAMS) provided by operator (item 2, PDF, 33 pages, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16841197&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6048%20Notams-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - crew statements (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16520671&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20MFR%20-%20Crew%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - additional notification information (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16521298&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03%20MFR%20-%20Additional%20Notification%20Information-Rel.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.

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