Bombardier INC DHC-8-402 accident near Los Angeles, California, November 8, 2010
On November 8, 2010 at about 10:07 pm local time, a Bombardier INC DHC-8-402, registered N422QX, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 77 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 a bird.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2010 · about 10:07 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · Los Angeles International · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 77 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier INC DHC-8-402
- Registration
- N422QX · no longer on the register · serial 4150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the approach to land, the flight crew reported a bird strike to the leading edge of the right wing. The crew declared an emergency and made an uneventful landing at their destination. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a 12-inch-diameter hole in the leading edge of the right wing centered between the right engine nacelle and the right wing tip. The damaged area was covered in bird remains, which were identified as the remains of a Common Loon (Gavia immer). The average weight for the species is about 10.9 pounds.
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
- Birdstrike during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,402 hours in all; 120 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 5,022 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,066 hours in all; 183 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 1,976 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 21, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,196 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 6, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 62,111 lb
- Seats: 70
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW150A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW150A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Air Industries INC
The flight
- Departed from: RDD Redding CA at 8:47 pm
- Destination: LAX Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from LAX, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 73 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on March 1, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cockpit Voice Recorder 12 - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Data Recorder 10 - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Data Recorder 10 - Attachment 1 - Tabular Data - Flight - (Csv Format) | data file | Download |
| 4 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspector's On-scene Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Bird Strike Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N422QX: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: P&W Canada PW150A 18 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P&W Canada PW150A 18 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Los Angeles International · nearest airport
- Redding Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR11LA042.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.