# NTSB ANC00LA004: Piper PA-31, N74923, Soldotna, AK, October 11, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 11, 1999, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Soldotna, AK
- Coordinates: 60.319099, -150.789321 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3191&lon=-150.7893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47681
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47681/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA004

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - bird(s) (cause)
  - horizontal stabilizer - bent

## Analysis

The pilot stated that while in cruise at 2,500 feet above sea level (msl), he felt the airplane shudder.  He noticed blood on the tip of the right horizontal stabilizer, and realized the airplane had struck a bird which he had not seen.  The pilot indicated the airplane did not require any trim changes after the impact.  The pilot returned the airplane to Anchorage.  A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the airplane's right horizontal stabilizer, requiring replacement of the stabilizer assembly.

## Factual narrative

On October 11, 1999, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31 airplane, N74923, sustained substantial damage when it struck a bird during cruise over Skilak Lake, Alaska, about 15 miles east of Soldotna, Alaska, at 60 degrees 27 minutes north latitude, 150 degrees 29 minutes west longitude.  The solo airline transport pilot was not injured.  The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as scheduled commuter Flight 13.  The flight departed the Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, about 1300 for Seward, Alaska.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed.

During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 12, the pilot stated that while in cruise at 2,500 feet above sea level (msl), the airplane shuddered.  He noticed blood on the end of the right horizontal stabilizer, and realized the airplane had struck a bird which he had not seen.  He said the airplane did not require any trim changes after the impact.  The pilot returned the airplane to Anchorage.  A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the airplane's right horizontal stabilizer, requiring replacement of the stabilizer assembly.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74923](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74923-2004-04-26), registration cancelled 2004-04-26, S/N 31-7305066, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7305066
- Airframe hours: 12304
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Fs Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, October 2, 1999, 3 hours before
- Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Destination: SWD, SEWARD, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,213 total, 114 in this make and model, 2,149 as pilot in command, 134 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19991011046669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991011046669A), Oct 11, 1999: Piper PA31350, Anchorage, AK, No damage. (-23) Aircraft departed Anchorage for seward, just east of skilak lake at an altitude of 2500' aircraft shuddered and pilot heard muffled thud. Pilot looked…

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.

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