# NTSB DEN99LA141: Cessna 152, N89186, Salt Lake City, UT, August 10, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1999, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.809364, -111.940589 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8094&lon=-111.9406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47027
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47027/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA141

## Probable cause

An inadvertent collision with a bird.

## 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
  - evasive maneuver - performed, pilot in command
  - object - bird(s) (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot had been cleared to enter the class B airspace surrounding the Salt Lake City International Airport, and was southbound over Interstate Highway 15 at 5,500 feet mean sea level.  When he was about 3 miles northeast of the airport, he noticed an eagle soaring at his altitude and at his 1 o'clock position.  As the eagle drew closer, the pilot made an evasive turn to the left, but the eagle struck the right wing about 18 inches inboard of the wing tip. The airplane landed on runway 32 without further incident. Postaccident inspection by an FAA airworthiness inspector disclosed wing spar damage.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 1999, approximately 1300 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89186, owned and operated by Buzzard Air, Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with a bird while on landing approach at Salt Lake City, Utah.  The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial observation flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight originated at Bountiful, Utah, approximately 1255.

According to the pilot's accident report, he had been cleared to enter the class B airspace surrounding Salt Lake City International Airport, and was southbound over Interstate Highway 15 at 5,500 feet msl (mean sea level).  When he was about 3 miles northeast of the airport, he noticed an eagle soaring at his altitude and at his 1 o'clock position.  As the eagle drew closer, the pilot made an evasive turn to the left, but the eagle struck the right wing about 18 inches inboard of the wing tip.  The airplane landed on runway 32 without further incident.  Postaccident inspection by an FAA airworthiness inspector disclosed wing spar damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89186](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89186), registered now, S/N 15282665, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15282665
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Buzzard Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BTF, BOUNTIFUL, UT
- Destination: SLC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,950 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 19 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC

## 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 19990810011689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990810011689A), Aug 10, 1999: Cessna 152, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. Acft struck a large bird on while on downwind approach and sustained substantial damage. (.19) on August 10, 1999, approximately 1300 mountain daylight time, a…

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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