# Incident 19981019036509I: Piper PA-28R-200, Big Bear, CA, October 19, 1998

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 1998, 19:30 local time
- Place: Big Bear, CA
- Airport: Big Bear City Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EELA
- Location: 34.2638° N, 116.8560° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BIG BEAR CITY (L35), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2638&lon=-116.8560&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3067R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3067R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-200 (registry code 7102811, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981019036509I

## Narrative

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

(-5)WHILE ON A FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 8 AT BIG BEAR CITY, CA. A LARGE BIRD CAME THROUGH THE PILOT SIDE WINDSHIELD.  IT WAS NIGHTIME AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, NIGHT CONDITIONS.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 1200 FEET AGL ON A STABLIZED APPROACH IN THE RECOMMENDED TRAFFIC PATTERN.  THE BIRD CAME FROM ABOVE THE AIRCRAFT AND THROUGH THE LEFT WINDSHIELD.  IT DID NOT CAUSE APPARENT DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER EXTERNAL AIRCRAFT COMPONENT, SUCH AS COWLS OR PROPS.  THE LEFT WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED FACIAL CUTS REQUIRING 11 STITCHES.  THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED NEAR A BIRD SANCUARY AND LOCAL PILOTS ARE AWARE OF BIRD ACTIVITY, HOWEVER NIGHTIME BIRD ACTIVITY IS RARE.  THERE WERE NO VIOLATION OF THE FAR'S, NO PILOT DEVIATION WAS FILED.

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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