# NTSB DEN01LA073: Cessna 340, N9940F, Alamosa, CO, March 20, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 2001, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Alamosa, CO - Coordinates: 37.459522, -105.870124 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4595&lon=-105.8701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51940 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51940/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA073 ## Probable cause The in-flight collision with a large bird during downwind approach for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - object - bird(s) (contributing factor) - light condition - daylight ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had just passed over the airport at 9500 feet mean sea level and entered the downwind leg for the approach to runway 20. At that moment he encountered a flock of large birds that flew up from below. One bird struck the leading edge of the right wing at approximately 3 feet inboard of the tip tank. The pilot declared an emergency and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing's leading edge, skin, wing spar and auxiliary fuel cells. At the time of the accident, winds were light and variable at 3 knots. The bird was identified as an adult sand hill crane. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 2001, at approximately 1115 mountain standard time, a Cessna 340, N9940F, was substantially damaged when it collided with a bird while on approach to San Luis Valley Regional Airport, Alamosa, Colorado. The private pilot and his five passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for this business flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Cedar City, Utah, at approximately 0730. According to the pilot's statement, he had just passed over the airport at 9500 feet mean sea level and entered the downwind leg for the approach to runway 20. At that moment he encountered a flock of large birds that flew up from below. One bird struck the leading edge of the right wing at approximately 3 feet inboard of the tip tank. The plot declared an emergency and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing's leading edge, skin, wing spar and auxiliary fuel cells. At the time of the accident, winds were light and variable at 3 knots. The bird that was fatally injured was later identified as an adult sand hill crane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9940F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9940F), registered now, S/N 340-0173, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 340 - Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340-0173 - Airframe hours: 5429.9 - Engines: Continental TSO 520 NB 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leavitt Enterprises Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2000, 79.2 hours before - Departed: CDC, Cedar City, UT - Destination: Alamosa, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KALS, San Luis Valley Regional, runway 20, 8,800 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 17, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 2,349 total, 104 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: KALS ## 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 20010320004779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010320004779A), Mar 20, 2001: Cessna 340CESSNA, Alamosa, CO, No damage. (-23) Purpose of this flight was in the furtherance of a business under FAR part 91. The pilot had cancelled IFR and was descending in VMC over the airport.… 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.