# NTSB WPR18FA220: De Havilland DHC8, N449QX, Steilacoom, WA, August 11, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2018, 20:43 local (Aug 11, 2018, 03:43 UTC)
- Place: Steilacoom, WA
- Coordinates: 47.148056, -122.637496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1481&lon=-122.6375&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Other: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98044
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18FA220
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98044/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98044
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA220

## Probable cause

The NTSB did not determine the probable cause of this event and does not plan to issue an investigative report or open a public docket. The investigation of this event is being conducted under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

## Findings

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

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Other authority investigated (probable cause); cases with it: [Bombardier DHC-8-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1390042), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Intentional act: stolen/unauthorized](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051020): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Ground crew; cases with it: [Bombardier DHC-8-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051020/cases.md?model=1390042), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Other: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350) (defining event); cases with it: [Bombardier DHC-8-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md?model=1390042), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On August 10, 2018, about 2043 Pacific daylight time, a De Havilland DHC-8-402, N449QX, was destroyed when it impacted trees on Ketron Island, near Steilacoom, WA. The noncertificated pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Horizon Air Industries, Inc,. and was being operated by the noncertificated pilot as an unauthorized flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the event, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington, about 1932. Horizon Air personnel reported that the noncertificated pilot was employed as a ground service agent and had access to the airplanes on the ramp. The investigation of this event is being conducted under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The NTSB provided requested technical assistance to the FBI, and any material generated by the NTSB is under the control of the FBI. The NTSB does not plan to issue an investigative report or open a public docket.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 2018, about 2043 Pacific daylight time, a De Havilland DHC-8-402, N449QX, was destroyed when it impacted trees on Ketron Island, near Steilacoom, WA. The noncertificated pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Horizon Air Industries, Inc., and was being operated by the noncertificated pilot as an unauthorized flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the event, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington, about 1932. Horizon Air personnel reported that the noncertificated pilot was employed as a ground service agent and had access to the airplanes on the ramp. The investigation of this event is being conducted under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The NTSB provided requested technical assistance to the FBI, and any material generated by the NTSB is under the control of the FBI. The NTSB does not plan to issue an investigative report or open a public docket.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N449QX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N449QX-2021-11-19), registration cancelled 2021-11-19, S/N 4410, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: De Havilland DHC8 (402)
- Registry model: [Bombardier DHC-8-402](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-dhc-8-402) (registry code 1390042) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw150a) (registry code 52167, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4410
- Year built: 2012
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Operator: Horizon Air Industries Inc
- Registered owner: Horizon Air Industries Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: SEA, Seattle, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: fatal

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KTIW, 8 nm away

## Other investigations on N449QX (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR13LA431](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA431), Sep 29, 2013: Bombardier DHC-8-402 (N449QX), Reno, NV, no damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with known moderate-to-severe turbulence, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98044. 35 KB in all.

- Statement of Jurisdiction (item 1, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Jurisdiction-Master.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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