# NTSB ANC05CA005: Cessna 207, N5277J, Chefornak, AK, October 11, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 11, 2004, 09:19 local (17:19 UTC)
- Place: Chefornak, AK
- Coordinates: 60.149166, -164.285552
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1492&lon=-164.2856&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60332
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60332/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA005

## Probable cause

The in-flight collision with a bird while on final approach to land.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - bird(s) (cause)

## Analysis

The scheduled commuter airline flight was on short final approach to land when a large bird collided with and penetrated the windshield.  No one aboard was injured, and the commercial pilot was able to make an uneventful landing.  The damage from the bird strike  required the windshield to be replaced.

## Factual narrative

On October 11, 2004, about 0919 Alaska daylight time,  a wheel-equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N5277J, operated by Hageland Aviation Services under Title 14, CFR Part 135 as scheduled commuter Flight 63, sustained substantial damage when it struck a bird while on final approach to land at the Chefornak airport, Chefornak, Alaska.  The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured.  The flight departed Kipnuk, Alaska, about 0900, and was en route to Chefornak.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was in effect.

During a telephone conversation with the operator's director of operations on October 14, he related that the accident pilot reported that a large bird, possibly a Ptarmigan,  struck and penetrated the airplane's windshield.  The pilot was able to continue the landing approach, and made an uneventful landing.  The director of operations reported that due to the bird strike, the windshield had to be replaced.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5277J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5277J), registered now, S/N 20700772, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 207
- Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-f) (registry code 17237, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700772
- Engines: Continental IO-520 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Hageland Aviation
- Registered owner: Gussic Ventures
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KPN, Kipnuk, AK
- Destination: Chefornak, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 7,295 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 7,295 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20041011032309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041011032309A), Oct 11, 2004: Cessna 207A, Chefornak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) October 11, 2004, Alaska daylight time, hageland aviation services an air carrier certificate holder operating under 14 CFR part 135 as a commuter…

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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