Amateur-built DHC-8-102 accident near Albany, New York, October 15, 2002
On October 15, 2002, a amateur-built DHC-8-102, registered N847EX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albany, New York (Albany International Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 33 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with birds. A factor was the night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2002
- Place
- Albany, New York · Albany International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 33 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-8-102
- Registration
- N847EX · no longer on the register · serial 333
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was descending through 4,000 feet msl, at 200 KIAS, on a dark night, in visual meteorological conditions, when the airport's approach lights illuminated a flock of birds ahead of them. The auto-pilot was disconnected, but there was insufficient time to avoid contact with multiple birds. The airplane was checked for controllability, and no problems were noted, after which a normal landing was made. An after landing inspection revealed bird strikes on the base of the vertical stabilizer, and the about 6 feet outboard of the engine on the right wing. The right wing fuel tank was penetrated, and fuel was observed leaking from the right wing.
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: 6,100 hours in all; 3,600 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 24, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 24, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24,047 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 25, 2002; 360 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 34,500 lb
- Seats: 40
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PW 120A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Allegheny Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: DCA Washington DC at 11:12 pm
- Destination: ALB Albany NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from ALB, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 30 |
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.