# NTSB DCA14CA031: De Havilland DHC8 - 102, N808EX, Philadelphia, PA, November 25, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 24, 2013, 19:40 local (Nov 25, 2013, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Philadelphia, PA - Coordinates: 40.006668, -75.171112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0067&lon=-75.1711&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: 40 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 88637 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA14CA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88637/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88637 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA14CA031 ## Probable cause an inadvertent encounter with several birds during approach that 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing DHC-8-102, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1386002), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Wing structure: leading edge devices](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035754): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Boeing DHC-8-102, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035754/cases.md?model=1386002), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035754/cases.md) - [Wing structure: spar (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035711): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Boeing DHC-8-102, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035711/cases.md?model=1386002), [All aircraft, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035711/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: [Boeing DHC-8-102, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1386002), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis On November 24, 2013, at approximately 2040 EST, a De Havilland DHC-8-102, N808EX, operated by Piedmont Airlines as flight 4314, encountered a flock of a birds during the descent into Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The airplane was located about 16 miles north of KPHL, and at about 4000 feet mean sea level (msl), when multiple birds impacted the fuselage and wing of the airplane . The flight crew notified air traffic control, and did not declare an emergency. None of the 40 passengers and crew onboard were injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight between Greater Binghamton Airport (KBGM), Binghamton, New York, and KPHL. The captain was the pilot flying, and stated that flight conditions were night VMC with no moon. The flight crew stated they were at 4,000 feet msl, at about 190 knots airspeed, and on the downwind leg for runway 26 when the bird strike occurred. The flight crew heard multiple thuds and saw some of the birds through the windshield. After the impacts, the flight crew checked instruments, disconnected autopilot, checked for changes in flight characteristics and did not note any changes. The first officer notified ATC of the bird strike and did not declare an emergency. The flight landed uneventfully at KPHL. Post flight maintenance inspection revealed substantial damage to the left front wing spar, left wing skin, and vertical stabilizer deice boot. ## Factual narrative On November 24, 2013, at approximately 2040 EST, a De Havilland DHC-8-102, N808EX, operated by Piedmont Airlines as flight 4314, encountered a flock of a birds during the descent into Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The airplane was located about 16 miles north of KPHL, and at about 4000 feet mean sea level (msl), when multiple birds impacted the fuselage and wing of the airplane . The flight crew notified air traffic control, and did not declare an emergency. None of the 40 passengers and crew onboard were injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight between Greater Binghamton Airport (KBGM), Binghamton, New York, and KPHL. The captain was the pilot flying, and stated that flight conditions were night VMC with no moon. The flight crew stated they were at 4,000 feet msl, at about 190 knots airspeed, and on the downwind leg for runway 26 when the bird strike occurred. The flight crew heard multiple thuds and saw some of the birds through the windshield. After the impacts, the flight crew checked instruments, disconnected autopilot, checked for changes in flight characteristics and did not note any changes. The first officer notified ATC of the bird strike and did not declare an emergency. The flight landed uneventfully at KPHL. Post flight maintenance inspection revealed substantial damage to the left front wing spar, left wing skin, and vertical stabilizer deice boot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N808EX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N808EX-2025-12-01), registration cancelled 2025-12-01, S/N 299, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC8 - 102 (102) - Registry model: [Boeing DHC-8-102](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-dhc-8-102) (registry code 1386002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw120) (registry code 52114, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 299 - Airframe hours: 53120 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PW120A 2000 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt and Whitney PW120A 2000 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Piedmont Airlines, doing business as US Airways Express - Registered owner: USAirways - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 18, 2013 - Departed: KBGM, Binghamton, NY - Destination: KPHL, Philadelphia, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KPHL, Philadelphia International Air, runway 26, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 15, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,200 total, 6,810 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 3, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,213 total, 428 in this make and model, 192 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point -2 °F - Altimeter: 30.44 inHg - Observed at: KPHL, 15 nm away ## 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 20131124024339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131124024339A), Nov 24, 2013: Bombardier, DHC-8-102, Philadelphia, PA, Substantial damage. On November 24, 2013 aircraft N808EX piedmont airlines flight #4314 encountered several bird strikes on approach five miles east of the Philadelphia… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88637. 478 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 417 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement - Captain (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20-%20Captain-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement - First Officer (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20-%20First%20Officer-Master.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.