# NTSB CEN14LA262: Embraer EMB 135KL, N299SK, Traverse City, MI, May 28, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 28, 2014, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Traverse City, MI - Coordinates: 44.741664, -85.581665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7417&lon=-85.5817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 45 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA, Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89300 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89300/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89300 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA262 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bird during the descent to land, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. ## 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Embraer EMB-135KL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=3260302), [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. - [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Embraer EMB-135KL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=3260302), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane struck a common loon during the descent to land, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that the airplane was about 10 miles from the airport and descending through about 3,500 to 3,000 feet mean sea level when the bird strike occurred. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 2014, about 1500 eastern daylight time, an Embraer EMB-135KL, N299SK, sustained substantial damage from a bird strike during approach to runway 10 at the Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan. There were no injuries to the two flight crewmembers, the cabin attendant, or the 42 passengers. The airplane sustained damage to the windshield, skins, frame and internal supports in the area near the first officer's windshield. The aircraft was registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest and operated by Chautauqua Airlines under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as domestic passenger flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, about 1412.The pilot reported that the airplane was about 10 miles southwest of TVC and was set up for the visual approach to runway 10. While descending through 3,500 to 3,000 feet above mean sea level (msl), the airplane struck a bird which impacted just below the first officer's windshield. The pilot reported that the bird had punctured a hole just below the windshield and through the wall above and left of the first officer's feet. The pilot informed air traffic control of the bird strike. The airplane landed safely and continued normally to the gate. Examination of the airplane revealed bird remains in the area of the damage near the first officer's windshield. The bird remains were later identified as those from a Common Loon. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N299SK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N299SK-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N 145532, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EMBRAER EMB 135KL (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Embraer EMB-135KL](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-135kl) (registry code 3260302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce AE3007 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-ae3007-series) (registry code 54582, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 145532 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 31099 - Engines: Rolls Royce AE3003A1/3 6820 lbs thrust turbo jet; Rolls Royce AE3003A1/3 6820 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Chautauqua Airlines Inc, doing business as American Connection - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 19, 2014 - Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL - Destination: TVC, Traverse City, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TVC, Cherry Capital, runway 10, 6,901 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,403 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 33; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 18, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,991 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 24,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TVC ## 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 20140528007079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140528007079A), May 28, 2014: Embraer EMB-135KL, Traverse City, MI, Substantial damage. On may 28th 2014 at 15:00 eastern daylight time, an Embraer E-135 aircraft, N299SK, registered to wells fargo bank and operated by chautauqua airlines,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89300. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-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.