# NTSB CEN23LA379: Beech S35, N5874J, Houston, TX, August 16, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 16, 2023, 10:34 local (15:34 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 30.061779, -95.552788
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0618&lon=-95.5528&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192928
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA379
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192928/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192928
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA379

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird.

## 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 S35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1151532), [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.

- [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech S35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction reported that the airplane struck a bird during initial climb after takeoff. They were able to continue and land uneventfully. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5874J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5874J), registered now, S/N D-7866, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-7866
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 6553
- Engines: Continental IO550B37 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: My Flight LLC
- Registered owner: My Flight LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2023
- Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks Meml
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 750 total
- Pilot; age 18; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 72 total, 2 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KDWH
- METAR: METAR KDWH 161553Z 10SM CLR 33/16 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP165 T03330156=

## 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 20230816011979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230816011979A), Aug 16, 2023: Beech S35, Spring, TX, Substantial damage. On 8/16/2023 at 1034 CDT, a Beech S35, s/n D-7866, was conducting a training flight when the aircraft struck a bird, sustaining substantial damage to the right…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192928. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16143067&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Birdstrike%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16163583&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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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