# Accident 20240712011319A: Covington Edward L SHA-GLASAIR, Saint James, MN, July 12, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 2024, 06:30 local time
- Place: Saint James, MN
- Airport: St James Municipal
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.9864° N, 94.5580° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9864&lon=-94.5580&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3EC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3EC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Covington Edward L SHA-GLASAIR (registry code 05655PR, https://openairdocs.org/model/covington-edward-l-sha-glasair) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COVINGTON EDWARD L SHA-GLASAIR
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 23,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA267) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240712011319A

## Narrative

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

PIC STATED ON APPROACH TO LAND HE SAW A FLOCK OF BIRDS IN HIS PERIPHERAL VISION AND FELT BIRDS STRIKE THE AIRCRAFT. THE PIC WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. HE THEN TAXIED TO A RUNUP AREA WHERE HE SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT AND EXITED TO INSPECT FOR DAMAGE. THERE WAS SMOKE VISIBLE FROM THE ENGINE COWLING WHICH QUICKLY ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE PIC UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE COMPOSITE STRUCTURE WAS CONSUMED AND SOME OF THE ALUMINUM COMPONENTS WERE MELTED.

## 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 CEN24LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA267), Jul 12, 2024: Covington Edward L SHA-GLASAIR (N3EC), Saint James, MN, destroyed. Probable cause: An in-flight bird strike which resulted in an engine compartment fire that ultimately destroyed the airplane.

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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