Bombardier DHC-8-402 accident near Reno, Nevada, September 29, 2013
On September 29, 2013 at about 4:22 pm local time, a 2012 Bombardier DHC-8-402, registered N449QX, was involved in an accident during approach near Reno, Nevada. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 58 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s encounter with known moderate-to-severe turbulence, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2013 · about 4:22 pm local time · cases in 2013
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 58 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier DHC-8-402, built 2012 · all DHC-8-402s on the register
- Registration
- N449QX · no longer on the register · serial 4410
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the descent with known moderate-to-severe turbulence, the flight crew notified the cabin crew, which consisted of a forward and an aft flight attendant, to expect turbulent conditions, finish the cabin service, and be seated. As the airplane was leveling out, it encountered the first of a series of turbulent jolts of severe turbulence. The aft flight attendant had finished making a public announcement and was buckling herself into a jumpseat when the first jolt of severe turbulence hit. She was knocked out of the jumpseat onto the floor. The airplane encountered a second jolt of severe turbulence before she was able to get into her seat, and she was thrown to the ceiling and then back down to the floor, which resulted in a serious injury. The forward flight attendant had been checking on a passenger when the turbulence occurred and was thrown to the ceiling and hit the overhead bin. The passenger she was checking on flew out of his seat because he had not fastened his seatbelt, and he landed on the armrest of another seat.
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
- Turbulence encounter during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Terrain induced turbulence › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,942 hours in all; 7,793 in this make and model; 159 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 3,940 as pilot in command; 743 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 7, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,763 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,526 as pilot in command; 1,459 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 19, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,521 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 23, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 65,200 lb
- Seats: 80
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W PW150A (turboprop); 3,506 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W PW150A (turboprop); 3,506 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Air Industries Inc
The flight
- Departed from: SEA Seattle WA at 2:47 pm
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from RNO, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 55 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on May 22, 2014. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Crew Statements | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Cheryl Wright Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Email - Weather | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Satellite Imagery 1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Satellite Imagery 2 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Upper Air Sounding Rno | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Rno Surface Weather | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N449QX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N449QX: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Bombardier DHC-8 Dash 8 and Q400 58 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: P&W PW150A 18 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P&W PW150A 18 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Seattle-Tacoma International · departed from
- Reno/Tahoe International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Nevada 1,294 since 1982 · 223 in the last ten years
- Nevada 4,591 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N449QX 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR13LA431.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.