Amateur-built DHC-8 accident near Seattle, Washington, April 16, 1988
On April 16, 1988 at about 1:32 am local time, a amateur-built DHC-8, registered N819PH, was destroyed in an accident near Seattle, Washington (Seattle-Tacoma Intl airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 4 people were seriously injured and 27 people had minor injuries; 9 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1988 · about 1:32 am local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Seattle-Tacoma Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured and 27 people had minor injuries; 9 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-8
- Registration
- N819PH · no longer on the register · serial 061
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FROM SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL AIRPORT, THE CREW NOTED A RT ENG POWER LOSS AND DECIDED TO RETURN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. AFTER LOWERING THE LNDG GEAR, A MASSIVE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE RT ENG NACELLE. AFTER LNDG, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND ALL BRAKING WAS LOST. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY 16L AFTER THE LEFT POWER LEVER WAS MOVED TO FLT IDLE. THE F/O ADVISED TWR THAT THE ACFT WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE ACFT ROLLED ONTO THE RAMP AREA WHERE IT STRUCK A RWY DESIGNATOR SIGN, GROUND EQUIPMENT, AND JETWAYS B7 AND B9. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED BY FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DURING OVERHAUL THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL FILTER COVER WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE ENG AND THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION WAS NOT DISCOVERED DRG COMPANY INSTALLATION OF THE ENG ON THE ACFT. THIS LED TO A MASSIVE FUELLEAK AND THE NACELLE FIRE. THE FIRE/EXPLOSION CAUSED THE LOSS OF THE ENG PANELS, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM AND ALLOWING OTHER SYSTEMS TO BE DAMAGED. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION-SEE NTSB/AAR-89/02.)
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,328 hours in all; 981 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,106 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 10, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 34,500 lb
- Seats: 40
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PW120A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Air
The flight
- Destination: GEG Spokane WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16L, 11,400 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,800 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 4 | 24 | 9 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.