GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA006
Data Source NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
NTSB Report Nbr ANC00LA006
Event Id 20001212X19898
Local Date 10/15/1999
Local Time 1622
State AK
Event Type ACCIDENT
Injury Severity NONE
Record Status FINAL
Mid Air Collision NO
Event Location OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP

WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete NOT PERTINENT
Basic Weather Conditions VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND
Light Condition DAY
Cloud Condition SCATTERED
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) 3300
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) 0
Cloud Type NONE
Visibility RVR (ft) 0
Visibility RVV (sm) 0
Visibility (sm) 10
Wind Direction (deg) 17
Wind Condition Flag U
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Condition Indicated Unknown

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation PART 135: AIR TAXI & COMMUTER
Registration Number N220CS
Aircraft Make PIPER
Aircraft Model PA31T
Aircraft Series 3
Aircraft Damage SUBSTANTIAL
Aircraft Fire NONE
Aircraft Explosion NONE
Aircraft Type AIRPLANE
Aircraft Homebuilt UNKNOWN
Phase of Flight CRUISE
Aircraft Use UNKNOWN
Category of Operation SCHEDULED
Flight Plan Filed VFR
Domestic/International DOMESTIC
Passenger/Cargo PASSENGER ONLY
Operator Name CAPE SMYTHE AIR SERVICE
Operator Doing Business As
Owner Name CAPE SMYTHE AIR SERVICE INC.
Number of Seats 10
Number of Engines 2
ELT Installed YES
ELT Operated NO
Departure Airport Id PASA
Departure City SAVOONGA
Departure State ALASKA
Last Departure Point NO
Destination Local CRASH AT DESTINATION CITY
Destination Airport Id PAGM
Destination City
Runway Id 0
Air Carrier Operating Certificates YES
Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates UNKNOWN
Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate UNKNOWN
Cert Max Gross Wgt 9000

ENGINE INFORMATION

Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
Engine Manufactuer P&W
Engine Model PT6A-11
Engine Horsepower 500
Engine Thrust HP

INJURY INFORMATION
Injury Summary for Aircraft 1
Fatal Serious Minor None
Crew 0 0 0 0
Pass 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 5
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1
IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT
Phase of Operation: CRUISE

Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # Event Group Code Subject Modifier Personnel Cause/Factor
1 1 OBJECT BIRD(S) CAUSE
2 1 WING, WING RIB FRACTURED




AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT


On October 15, 1999, about 1622 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-T3 airplane, N220CS, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a bird about 18 miles east of Gambell, Alaska, about latitude 63 degrees, 41.5 minutes north, and longitude 171 degrees, 05.0 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 394 by Cape Smythe Air Service Inc., Nome, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the four passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Savoonga Airport, Savoonga, Alaska, about 1615. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported he was notified by the operator of the bird strike. The flight was a continuation of a scheduled flight from Nome, to Gambell, located on Saint Lawrence Island, in the Bering Sea. The FAA inspector said that the pilot reported he was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet msl, at an airspeed of about 200 knots. He said he caught a glimpse of a sea gull that suddenly dove toward the water. The sea gull struck the right wing, outboard of the right engine nacelle. The pilot landed at Gambell without any problems. The Director of Maintenance for the operator reported the upper surface of the leading edge received downward, and aft crushing of the wing structure about 18 inches across, and about 8 inches deep. The damage to the wing included several ribs, forward spar, leading edge skin, and the deice boot.

AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT


The airline transport certificated pilot was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic passenger flight. The airplane was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet msl, at an airspeed of about 200 knots. The pilot said he caught a glimpse of a sea gull that suddenly dove toward the water. The sea gull struck the right wing, outboard of the right engine nacelle. The pilot landed the airplane without any problems. The right wing's leading edge upper surface received downward and aft crushing of the wing structure about 18 inches across, and about 8 inches deep. The damage to the wing included several ribs, forward spar, leading edge skin, and the deice boot.

AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT


An in-flight collision with a bird.


END REPORT