# Accident 19980617024509A: Cessna 207, Bethel, AK, June 17, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 1998, 17:30 local time
- Place: Bethel, AK
- Airport: Bethel Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: KUSA
- Location: 60.8096° N, 161.8491° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8096&lon=-161.8491&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2162C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2162C-2019-10-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 207A (registry code 2073605, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520-F (registry code 17237, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207
- Reported engine: CONT IO520F
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 200 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA104) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980617024509A

## Narrative

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

ON DOWNWIND STRUCK A LARGE BIRD. LANDED SAFELY BUT SUBSTANTIAL WING DAMAGE.(.4)THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT ENTERED A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 18, WHEN HE NOTICED A BROWN OBJECT PASS IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, STRIKING THE RIGHT WING. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE THE APPROACH AND MAKE A NORMAL LANDING.  COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL REPORTED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING'S LEADING EDGE AND RIB ASSEMBLIES, AND NOTED THE PRESENCE OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE GOOSE FEATHERS, IMBEDDED IN THE DAMAGED PORTION OF THE WING.  IN THE PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT (NTSB FORM 6120.1/2) SUBMITTED BY THE PILOT, HE REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE SKIN WAS CRUSHED BACK TO THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE SPAR.  THE ENTIRE LEADING EDGE WAS REPLACED BETWEEN THE TIP CAP, AND OUTBOARD OF THE ATTACH POINT OF THE WING STRUT.                                         (-23) ON LEFT DOWNWIND AT BETHEL AIRPORT ON RUNWAY 180, ALTITUDE OF 800 FEET, PILOT SAW A BROWN FLASH, LOUD NOISE OF SOMETHING STRIKING AIRCRAFT. BIRD STRIKE ON RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE BETWEEN STATIONS 118.0 AND 136.0. MAJOR REPAIR IS REQUIRED.

## 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 ANC98LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA104), Jun 18, 1998: Cessna 207 (N2162C), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a large bird.

## Other reports on N2162C (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20120706028429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120706028429A), Jul 6, 2012: Cessna 207A (N2162C), Kotlik, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot impacted a river while adjusting power settings after departure from Kotlik. He returned to Kotlik and on landing the propeller and nose struck the…

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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