# NTSB CEN11CA391: Beech F33A, N70TP, Houston, TX, June 10, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 10, 2011, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.817499, -95.67028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8175&lon=-95.6703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA391
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80776/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80776
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA391

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird during initial climb.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot had just departed and was about 13 miles from the airport when he saw a large bird pass by the passenger side windshield. He did not feel or hear it strike the airplane, but within a few minutes of seeing the bird he began to smell a foul odor. The pilot visually confirmed that the bird had struck the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer causing substantial damage. The pilot made a 180-degree turn and landed uneventfully back at the departure airport.

## Factual narrative

The pilot had just departed and was about 13 miles from the airport when he saw a large bird pass by the passenger side windshield. He did not feel or hear it strike the airplane, but within a few minutes of seeing the bird he began to smell a foul odor. The pilot visually confirmed that the bird had struck the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer causing substantial damage. The pilot made a 180 degree turn and landed uneventfully back at the departure airport.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70TP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70TP), registered now, S/N CE-1153, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F33A
- Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CE-1153
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Perry Thomas R Jr
- Registered owner: Perry Thomas R Jr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Houston, TX
- Destination: Livingston, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model

## 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 20110610011259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110610011259A), Jun 10, 2011: Beech F33A, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck bird approximately 5 minutes after takeoff while in cruise flight. Aircraft returned to airport and landed without further incident. The bird…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80776. 335 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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