# Accident 19980227005949A: Mooney M20J, Wilkes Barre Sc, PA, February 27, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 27, 1998, 20:15 local time
- Place: Wilkes Barre Sc, PA
- Airport: Wilkes-Barre Scranton International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach-IFR
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3409° N, 75.7199° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3409&lon=-75.7199&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1173N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1173N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 492 total, 152 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA072) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980227005949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC98LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA072), Feb 28, 1998: Mooney M20J (N1173N), Avoca, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a bird strike.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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