Bombardier DHC-8-401 N409QX

Summary

On 9 January 2003 at about 02:15 local time, a Bombardier DHC-8-401 registered N409QX was involved in an accident near Medford, Oregon, United States. 32 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 January 2003 at 02:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Medford, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Rogue Valley Int. (MFR)

Coordinates

42.4469, -122.8606

Aircraft

Bombardier DHC-8-401

Registration

N409QX

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seattle → Medford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

SEA03FA024

1 person was seriously injured.

The fracture and spalling of the inner-most pane of the aircraft's port side windshield while on a downwind for a night visual approach due to an imposed load beyond that required for windshield certification (multiple bird strikes). Factors include a dark night, and a flock of ducks (Lesser Scaups) flying in the location of the visual traffic pattern.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft, which was on a downwind for a night visual approach, impacted a flock of Lesser Scaups (diving ducks). The nose structure of the aircraft and the windshield directly in front of the captain received multiple bird strikes. Some of the birds penetrated the aircraft's skin, but there was no direct penetration of the windshield. Although the windshield was not penetrated, hundreds of small pieces of glass were ejected from the most inner of the windshield's three panes, and approximately 70 of these pieces imbedded themselves in the face, forehead, and scalp of the captain. The first officer ultimately completed a successful landing, while using backup flight instruments. The investigation determined that the windshield certification process defined in Part 25 of the Federal Aviation Regulations and the Canadian Aviation Regulations does not take into account the effects of multiple bird strikes on the same windshield.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.