# NTSB DCA25LA272: Bombardier CL-600-2D24, N330PQ, Germantown, KY, July 17, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 17, 2025, 10:53 local (14:53 UTC)
- Place: Germantown, KY
- Coordinates: 38.672, -83.991
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6720&lon=-83.9910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 81 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 23, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: Endeavor Air, Inc., FAA AVP
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200627
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA272
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200627/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200627
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA272

## Probable cause

An inadvertent encounter with severe turbulence during descent.

## Findings

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

- [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=1390016), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of meteorologic cond](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Flight crew; cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md?model=1390016), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of meteorologic cond](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Cabin crew; cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md?model=1390016), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of meteorologic cond](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Passenger; cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md?model=1390016), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=1390016), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Endeavor Air flight 4985 encountered severe turbulence while descending through 17,400 feet to Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), after which a passenger reported a serious injury after seeking follow-up medical care. The flight crew reported that the fasten seat belt sign was illuminated, and a public address (PA) announcement had been made instructing passengers to fasten their seat belts and remain seated. As the aircraft descended through about 17,400 feet, the pilots observed a cumulus cloud directly ahead that had not been displayed on the airplane’s weather radar as moderate or severe returns. The captain reduced the descent rate and continued through the top of the cloud, when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the two flight attendants (FAs) were conducting final cabin safety checks. During the event, both FAs were lifted into the air and thrown to the floor, with one FA striking their head on the ceiling of the aircraft. Following the turbulence, both FAs returned to their assigned jump seats and secured their safety harnesses, while checking on passengers. A public address (PA) announcement was made instructing passengers to “please take your seat and fasten your seatbelt,” followed by a second announcement advising passengers to press their call button if they required assistance. Two passengers activated their call buttons and reported striking their heads on the ceiling during the turbulence encounter. Upon arrival at the gate, medical personnel met the aircraft. After evaluation, both passengers were released. Endeavor Air received an unverified report following the flight that one passenger sought further medical treatment and was subsequently diagnosed with a serious injury. At the time of the turbulence encounter there was no active significant meteorological information (SIGMETs), convective SIGMETs, airman’s meteorological information (AIRMETs), or pilot reports (PIREPs) of any significant turbulence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N330PQ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N330PQ), registered now, S/N 15330, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2D24
- Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2d24) (registry code 1390016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF34-8C5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-8c5) (registry code 30050, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15330
- Year built: 2014
- Airframe hours: 23830
- Engines: GE CF34-8C5 14510 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34-8C5 14510 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Endeavor Air, doing business as Delta Connection
- Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Commuter
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 10, 2025
- Departed: JFK, New York, NY
- Destination: CVG, Hebron, KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,861.5 total, 1,209.4 in this make and model, 1,709.3 as pilot in command, 243 in the last 90 days, 81 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 24; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,301.5 total, 299 in this make and model, 941.3 as pilot in command, 239.3 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 11.5 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Turbulence: Severe
- Observed at: KCVG, 39 nm away
- METAR: Convective SIGMET
WSUS31 KKCI 171355 
SIGE  
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 87E 
VALID UNTIL 1555Z 
OH KY IN 
FROM 60W HNN-70NNE LOZ-40E IIU-30SW CVG-60W HNN 
AREA TS MOV FROM 26020KT. TOPS TO FL300.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200627. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19397102&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20EDV498517JUL%20Printed%20Redacted_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 253 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19435157&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4985%20CA%20and%20FO%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Cabin crew statements (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19397999&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=EDV498517JUL%20FA%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records (item 4, PDF, 56 pages, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19449678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20and%20Weather%20Packet_Redacted-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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