# NTSB CEN11TA027: Beech A100, N1TR, Palestine, TX, October 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: October 18, 2010, 12:53 local (17:53 UTC) - Place: Palestine, TX - Coordinates: 31.85, -96.01667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8500&lon=-96.0167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Fort Worth FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77626 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11TA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77626/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77626 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11TA027 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a flock of birds while the airplane was descending through a cloud layer. ## 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 operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane collided with several birds as it descended though a cloud layer. The flight crew reported that there were no observed flight control issues; however, they elected to return to the departure airport and landed without incident. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed bird remains along the substantially damaged left wing. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 2010, at 1253 central daylight time, N1TR, a Beech A100 multiengine airplane, received substantial damage after impacting several birds near Palestine, Texas. The pilot, co-pilot, and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Trinity River Authority of Texas, Arlington, Texas. The flight was descending through a cloud layer and was in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the public use flight. The airplane had departed the Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY), Arlington, Texas, at 1225, and was en route for the Palestine Municipal Airport (PSN), Palestine, Texas. The pilot reported that the airplane was descending through 4,000 feet in IMC, when the airplane struck multiple birds. The airplane shuttered; however, the pilot reported that the airplane was controllable and that the airplane handling was not adversely affected. The flight crew elected to return to GKY and landed without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing leading edge and spar outboard of the stall fence. The leading edge of the vertical stabilizer sustained minor damage. Bird remains and feathers were observed near the damaged area of the left wing and the vertical fin of the tail section. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1TR (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BEECH A100 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: B-238 - Airframe hours: 8022 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney Canada PT-6A-28 680 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt and Whitney Canada PT-6A-28 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Operator: Trinity River Authority Of Texas - Registered owner: Trinity River Authority Of Texas - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 7, 2010 - Departed: GKY, Arlington, TX - Destination: PSN, Palestine, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PSN, Palestine Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review February 4, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 2,930 total, 994 in this make and model, 2,799 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 6, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 4,958 total, 3,758 in this make and model, 4,462 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KCRS ## 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 20101018050239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101018050239A), Oct 18, 2010: Beech A100, Palestine, TX, Substantial damage. On October 18, 2010 at approximately 1245 central daylight time (CDT), a Beechcraft kingair BE-100-A100, N1TR, owned and operated by trinity river authority of… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77626. 672 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 672 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378016&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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.