19980227005949A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Mooney M20J · Wilkes Barre Sc, PA · February 27, 1998

Date: February 27, 1998 · 20:15 local
Place: Wilkes Barre Sc, PA
Airport: Wilkes-Barre Scranton International
Phase of flight: Final Approach-IFR
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1173N
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC98LA072
Reported as: Mooney M20J
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 492 total152 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N1173NRegistered now · Mooney M20JS/N 24-1335 · Built 1982 Airframe modelMooney M20J Engine modelLycoming I0360 SER A&CReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Struck a goose during approach. Caused nose down. Found goose imbbeted in vertical stabilizer. Bird NOTAMS issued. (-23) pilot was on an IFR flight plan in VMC from bed to avp. On downwind for the ILS rwy 4 at 4,000', the airplane struck a goose near the top of the vertical stabilizer. The airplane descended, but the pilot recovered control; however, it turned slowly. The pilot then landed the airplane normally. Investigation revealed the vertical stabilizer spar was bent, making this an accident.

As the FAA filed it

STRUCK A GOOSE DURING APPROACH. CAUSED NOSE DOWN. FOUND GOOSE IMBBETED IN VERTICAL STABILIZER. BIRD NOTAMS ISSUED. (-23) PILOT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN IN VMC FROM BED TO AVP. ON DOWNWIND FOR THE ILS RWY 4 AT 4,000', THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A GOOSE NEAR THE TOP OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED, BUT THE PILOT RECOVERED CONTROL; HOWEVER, IT TURNED SLOWLY. THE PILOT THEN LANDED THE AIRPLANE NORMALLY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE VERTICAL STABILIZER SPAR WAS BENT, MAKING THIS AN ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC98LA072Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAvoca, PAa bird strike.Feb 28, 1998 · Substantial damage