- Date
- May 22, 2000, 08:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place
- Cordova, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Aircraft
- N402ETCessna 402C
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20000522021359A
- Case key
- 49280
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An in-flight collision with a bird.
Analysis
The airline transport certificated pilot was landing at the conclusion of a cargo flight. The visibility was about 2 miles in light rain and mist. When the airplane was about 50 feet above the ground at 100 knots, the pilot saw three Canada geese fly up from the runway area. One of the geese collided with the right windshield, breaking the plastic. The bird remained caught on pieces of the broken windshield. The pilot landed the airplane without any other difficulties. The windshield was penetrated, and required replacement.
Factual narrative
On May 22, 2000, at 0805 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 402C airplane, N402ET, sustained substantial damage when a bird struck the windshield during landing at the Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith airport, Cordova, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as an instrument flight rules (IFR) scheduled flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated as Flight 106 by Arctic Circle Air Service Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. An IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, at 0704.
The director of operations for the operator reported the pilot was carrying only cargo. During the landing approach to Cordova, the airplane was about 50 feet above the ground at 100 knots. The pilot reported the visibility was about two miles in light rain and mist. The pilot saw three Canada geese fly up from the runway area. One of the geese collided with the right windshield, breaking the plastic. The bird remained caught on pieces of the broken windshield. The pilot landed the airplane without any other difficulties. The windshield was penetrated, and required replacement.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N402ET
- Reported as
- Cessna 402C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402C0054
- Airframe hours
- 10,680
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-VB, 325 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Arctic Circle Air Service Inc.
- Registered owner
- Arctic Air Group
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · May 8, 2000 · 28 hours before
- Departed
- PANC · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- PACV
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- PACV · Cordova, runway 27, 7,499 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,830 total · 35 in this make and model · 3,750 as pilot in command · 172 in the last 90 days · 53 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N402ET · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.