# NTSB DEN08LA010: Bombardier CL-600-2C10, N368CA, Denver, CO, October 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 2007, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.861667, -104.673057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8617&lon=-104.6731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 74 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 66911 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66911/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=66911 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA010 ## Probable cause the in-flight collision with geese shortly after takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - bird(s) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was about 1,500 feet above the ground when it flew through a flock of about 30 geese. The crew heard 3 to 4 thuds, and then the right engine immediately began running rough. The captain declared an emergency and returned to the airport. An examination of the airplane showed damage to the right engine fan and dents along both leading edge wing slats. Approximately 1 hour before the accident, the airport's Automatic Terminal Information Service reported a "bird advisory." ## Factual narrative On October 12, 2007, approximately 1300 mountain daylight time, a Bombardier CL-600-2C10, N368CA, registered to and operated by Skywest Airlines as Flight 4021, and piloted by an airline transport-certificated pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a flock of birds shortly after taking off from Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The scheduled domestic passenger flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed and activated. The captain, first officer, 2 flight attendants, and 70 passengers on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Salt Lake City (SLC) International Airport, Utah. The captain reported they were about 1,500 feet above the ground when they saw a large flock of about 30 geese coming towards them. She said they heard 3 to 4 thuds, and then the right engine immediately began running rough. The VIB gauge was fluctuating rapidly from one extreme to the other. The captain declared an emergency and returned to DEN, landing uneventfully. An examination of the airplane showed damage to the right engine fan and dents along both wing leading edge slats. The left slat had to be replaced. The DEN 1155 ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) gave a "bird advisory." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N368CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N368CA), registered now, S/N 10075, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bombardier, Inc. CL-600-2C10 - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2C10](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2c10) (registry code 1390015) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10075 - Airframe hours: 12731 - Engines: General Electric CF34-8C5B1 13790 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CF34-8C5B1 13790 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Skywest Airlines, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 1, 2007 - Departed: DEN, Denver, CO - Destination: SLC, Salt Lake City, UT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DEN, Denver International, runway 25, 12,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 3,933 total, 1,673 in this make and model, 1,827 as pilot in command, 122 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 1,729 total, 731 in this make and model, 715 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: DEN ## 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 20071012022949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071012022949I), Oct 12, 2007: Cndair CL6002C10, Denver, CO, Minor damage. (-23) Skywest flight 4021 departing Denver on 10/12/2007 struck a flock of birds after takeoff. The aircraft ingested a bird into the left engine and suffered… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 7, 2008, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=66911. 3.8 MB in all. - Supplement E, Second Pilot Information (item 1, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40287736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20E,%20Second%20Pilot%20Information-Master.PDF - Supplement S, Aircraft Occupant and Injured Ground Personnel (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459081&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S,%20Aircraft%20Occupant%20and%20Injured%20Ground%20Personnel-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Fan blade damage. (item 5, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40287740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fan%20blade%20damage.-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.