# NTSB DEN08IA143: Raytheon C90A, N688LL, Jasper, TX, August 14, 2008

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 2008, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Jasper, TX
- Coordinates: 30.885555, -94.034721
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8856&lon=-94.0347&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08IA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68715/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08IA143

## Probable cause

The impact with a bird during initial takeoff climb.

## 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 · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7150004), [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.

- [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N688LL-2009-05-08), registration cancelled 2009-05-08, S/N LJ-1451, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Raytheon Aircraft Company C90A
- Registry model: [Raytheon C90A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-c90a) (registry code 7150004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ-1451
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20080814842869I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080814842869I), Aug 14, 2008: Beech C90A, Jasper, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed Jasper county Bell field (kjas) VFR to beaumont/port arthur, southeast Texas reginonal airport (kbpt). On climb-out, after takeoff…

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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