Approach Speed Focus of Accident Probe Into Overturned CRJ-900 in Toronto

Accident investigators outline the sequence of events that led to the CRJ-900 overturning upon landing.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, March 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Wreckage of Endeavor CRJ-900 [Courtesy: TSB of Canada]

Key Takeaways:

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is investigating why an Endeavor Air Bombardier CRJ-900 overturned upon landing in Toronto, scrutinizing the aircraft's approach speed.
The incident occurred on February 17 in gusty winds, resulting in a hard landing that destroyed the right landing gear, sheared off a wing, ignited jet fuel, and caused the aircraft to flip upside down, though all 80 occupants evacuated with some injuries but no fatalities.
The preliminary report indicates that after encountering a wind gust that increased airspeed, the pilot reduced thrust, leading to a high descent rate (over 1,100 fpm) and a hard, right-wing-low touchdown (3g vertical acceleration, 7.5-degree bank).
Airline operating manuals define a hard landing as a vertical descent rate greater than 600 fpm and specify flare initiation between 20-30 feet AGL, a procedure not effectively achieved in this incident.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is scrutinizing the approach speed of the Bombardier CRJ-900 in its investigation of why the aircraft overturned upon landing in Toronto last month.

During the February 17 incident, the Delta Air Lines regional jet operated by Endeavor Air was arriving from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (KMSP) when it landed hard on the runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ) in gusty winds.