Amateur-built DHC-8-202 accident near Denver, Colorado, February 3, 2008
On February 3, 2008 at about 1:59 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-8-202, registered N444YV, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Denver, Colorado. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 20 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The encounter with severe turbulence causing serious injury to the flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 2008 · about 1:59 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 20 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-8-202
- Registration
- N444YV · registry record · serial 444
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was descending from 14,000 feet to 13,000 feet when it encountered severe turbulence. The FASTEN SEATBELTS sign was reportedly illuminated. The captain called the flight attendant on the intercom, but she did not answer. An emergency medical technician (EMT), who was a passenger on the flight, answered and reported the flight attendant was lying on the floor unconscious. The EMT and an off-duty United flight attendant tended to the injured flight attendant. The captain declared an emergency and the airplane landed at its destination. The flight attendant was transported to a hospital with serious injuries.
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
What happened, in order
- Clear air turbulence encounter during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 125 in the last 30 days; 400 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,052 hours in all; 699 in this make and model; 232 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days; 287 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 36,500 lb
- Seats: 40
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123D (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mesa Airlines, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: CPR Casper WY at 12:45 pm
- Destination: DEN Denver CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from DEN, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 19 |
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.