Horizon DH8D at Ketron Island on Aug 10th 2018, stolen aircraft crashed into forest
Last Update: August 14, 2018 / 18:31:10 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Aug 10, 2018
Classification
Crash
Airline
Horizon Air
Aircraft Registration
N449QX
Aircraft Type
De Havilland Dash 8 (400)
ICAO Type Designator
DH8D
Pierce County,WA Sheriff's Office reported a 29 year old employee of Horizon Air stole the aircraft and performed an unauthorized takeoff. Two F-15 fighter aircraft were dispatched creating sonic booms. The Dash 8 crashed at Ketron Island,WA about one hour after the unauthorized takeoff. The 29 year old was the only person on board and died in the crash. FBI, NTSB and FAA are investigating, the FBI have now taken the lead into the criminal investigation.
Alaska Airlines, parent company of Horizon Air, initially reported the aircraft involved was N449QX but later removed the tail number from all their reports. The chairman confirmed one of their aircraft was involved in the occurrence, the thoughts are with the family of the deceased and their entire Horizon/Alaska Airlines family.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported the FAA requested assistance by the Department of Defence (DoD) due to a stolen aircraft a Seatac Airport, two F-15s were dispatched and were working to redirect the Dash out over the Pacific Ocean when it crashed. Neither of the fighter aircraft fired on the Dash 8. The further handling was passed to local rescue and law enforcement.
Alaska Airlines Fleet Update stated: "I can confirm the crashed plane was certainly #N449QX, as all other repainted Q400s are either currently parked at another airport or are in flight. It was the second of two planes delivered to Horizon Air in 2012."
No Mode-S or ADS-B were transmitted from the aircraft (suggesting its transponder was off) at the time of the departure or the subsequent hour until impact.
On Aug 13th 2018 the FAA reported, N449QX "CRASHED ON ISLAND NEAR PUGET SOUND", the sole pilot on board died.
The FBI reported they have recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder.
On Aug 14th 2018 the NTSB stated: "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 a report or open a public docket." The NTSB reported: "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 non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Horizon Air Industries Inc. and operated by the individual as an unauthorized flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington, about 1932 for an unknown destination. Horizon Air personnel reported that the individual was employed as a ground service agent and had access to the airplanes on the ramp."
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Aug 10, 2018
Classification
Crash
Airline
Horizon Air
Aircraft Registration
N449QX
Aircraft Type
De Havilland Dash 8 (400)
ICAO Type Designator
DH8D
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Horizon DH8D at Reno on Sep 29th 2013, moderate turbulence causes three injuries
A Horizon Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines, registration N449QX performing flight QX-441/AS-2441 from Seattle,WA to Reno,NV…
Horizon E175 near Portland on Oct 22nd 2023, credible security threat by jumpseater, tried to shut both engines down
A Horizon Airlines Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of Alaska Airlines, registration N660QX performing flight QX-2059/AS-2059 from Everett,WA to San…
Fleet type match
Horizon DH8D at Seattle on Apr 25th 2022, flock of birds
A Horizon Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 on behalf of Alaska Air, registration N403QX performing flight AS-2553 from Victoria,BC (Canada) to Seattle,WA…
Fleet type match
Horizon DH8D at Portland on Dec 9th 2021, engine shut down in flight
A Horizon Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines, registration N450QX performing flight AS-2232 from Portland,OR to Spokane,WA…
Horizon E175 at Sacramento on Sep 18th 2021, bird strike
A Horizon Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of Alaska Airlines, registration N645QX performing flight AS-2188 from Sacramento,CA to Portland,OR (USA), was in…
Fleet type match
Horizon DH8D near Yakima on May 21st 2021, sparks in galley
A Horizon Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 on behalf of Alaska Airlines, registration N438QX performing flight AS-2256 from Pasco,WA to Seattle,WA (USA),…
Newest articles
Fleet type match
UPS B744 at Tokyo on May 6th 2023, hard touchdown on windshear recovery
A UPS United Parcel Service Boeing 747-400, registration N580UP performing flight 5X-109 from Shanghai Pudong (China) to Tokyo Narita (Japan), was on…
Fleet type match
Delta B763 at New York on Apr 26th 2024, emergency slide trouble
A Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N176DN performing flight DL-520 from New York JFK,NY to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was climbing out of JFK's…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
Your regulation partner, specialists in aviation safety and compliance; providing training, auditing, and consultancy services. Find out more.
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways