Canadair CL-600-2C10 incident near Denver, Colorado, April 11, 2004
On April 11, 2004 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Canadair CL-600-2C10, registered N609QX, was involved in an incident near Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 60 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total failure of the airplane's number 1 system hydraulic pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2004 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Denver International Airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 60 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Canadair CL-600-2C10 · all CL-600-2C10s on the register
- Registration
- N609QX · no longer on the register · serial 10031
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain reported that while in cruise flight at flight level 330, the crew received a master caution light and a hydraulic system 1 low pressure along with warning lights for the outboard ground spoilers, outboard spoilerons, and the outboard spoilers. The hydraulic fluid quantity and fluid temperature readings were good, but the system pressure was dropping. The crew ran the emergency checklist and continued their flight to Denver, using the backup (1B) system. On final approach and landing, the captain reported that they lost number 1 system pressure and quantity. The crew shut off the 1B system and continued to land. After landing, the crew shut down the number one engine and taxied to the gate. A post-incident examination of the airplane's number 1 hydraulic system showed that the hydraulic pump had come apart internally and seized. Metal fragments were found in the hydraulic filters and lines. Further examination of the hydraulic pump showed that several piston shoes in the pump's hanger and piston subassembly had come apart. The resulting metal fragments subsequently caused damage to the hold-down plate, the hanger, and other internal components of the pump, resulting in its seizure.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,178 hours in all
- Last flight review: December 18, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,849 hours in all
- Last flight review: November 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,388.8 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 24, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 74,999 lb
- Seats: 74
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF34-8C1 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF34-831 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Air
The flight
- Departed from: ONT Ontario CA at 6:15 pm
- Destination: DEN Denver CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 800 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from DEN, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 56 |
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.