- Date
- August 14, 2008, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Jasper, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N688LLRaytheon C90A
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20080814842869I
- Case key
- 68715
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The impact with a bird during initial takeoff climb.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During initial takeoff climb at 300 feet above ground level (agl) at 140 knots, the pilot noticed a "buzzard" to the front and slightly above the airplane. The pilot lowered the pitch and right wing; however, the "bird folded his wings and dove toward me." The bird impacted the right wing leading edge. The pilot "conducted a controllability check" and noticed a slight vibration with the right aileron. The pilot continued to his destination (56 nautical miles) because that airport had emergency services. The airplane landed uneventfully. Prior to the flight, the pilot was unaware of any reported bird activity in the area. Examination of the airplane showed minor damage to the right wing leading edge and three wing ribs.
Factual narrative
During initial takeoff climb at 300 feet above ground level (agl) at 140 knots, the pilot noticed a "buzzard" to the front and slightly above the airplane. The pilot lowered the pitch and right wing; however, the "bird folded his wings and dove toward me." The bird impacted the right wing leading edge. The pilot "conducted a controllability check" and noticed a slight vibration with the right aileron. The pilot continued to Southeast Texas Regional Airport (BPT), Beaumont, Texas, located 56 nautical miles from the departure airport, because BPT had emergency services. The airplane landed uneventfully. Prior to the flight, the pilot was unaware of any reported bird activity in the area. Examination of the airplane showed minor damage to the right wing leading edge and three wing ribs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N688LL
- Reported as
- Raytheon C90A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- LJ-1451
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Conex International Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- JAS · Jasper, TX
- Destination
- BPT · Beaumont/Port A, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 6,700 total · 200 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.