Incident Overview
On July 18, 2012, at approximately 2200 central daylight time, a Bombardier CL-600-2C10 airplane, registration N502AE, operating as American Eagle Flight 3773, diverted to the General Downing-Peoria International Airport (KPIA), Peoria, Illinois, due to weather. The flight had originally departed Denver International Airport (KDEN) at about 1855 mountain daylight time, destined for Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD). While on a three-mile final approach to KPIA, the crew detected smoke in the airplane. After landing, the crew directed an emergency ground egress. The two over-wing exits and the main entrance door were used for the evacuation.
Occupant Injuries
The two pilots, two cabin crew members, and 52 passengers were uninjured. One passenger sustained a serious injury—a broken ankle—during the egress.
Aircraft Examination
Post-landing examination revealed no obvious source of the smoke and no damage to the airplane. The airplane was operating with a single environmental pack, as permitted by the minimum equipment list. The remaining environmental pack failed while the airplane was on final approach, causing the system to revert to allowing ambient air to enter the cabin. No sources of fire were located within the airplane. However, along the approach path to the airport, the airplane overflew a large house fire.
Operational Conditions
The flight was conducted under the provisions of Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a scheduled passenger flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan.