- Date
- July 14, 2000, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Stephenville, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N99236Ercoupe 415-C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000714005119A
- Case key
- 49731
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The collision with a bird while in cruise flight.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported the airplane's right wing was struck by a 'buzzard' while in cruise flight. The 'buzzard' impacted the top of the leading edge on the outboard section of the wing damaging six wing ribs. The pilot reported that the damage affected the flight characteristics of the airplane. He was able to maintain control and landed the aircraft without further incident.
Factual narrative
On July 14, 2000, at 1130 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C single-engine airplane, N99236, was substantially damaged as a result of a bird strike while in cruise flight near Stephenville, Texas. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was uninjured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot and another private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Longview, Texas, at 0830, and was destined for Stephenville, Texas.
According to the pilot, approximately 20 miles east of Stephenville's Clark Field Municipal Airport, the airplane's right wing was struck by a "buzzard." The pilot reported that he observed the "buzzard" slightly above and to the right of his flight path. The "buzzard" dove into the airplane and the pilot was unable to avoid the collision. The "buzzard" impacted the top of the leading edge on the outboard section of the wing substantially damaging six consecutive wing ribs. The pilot added that the damage affected the flight characteristics of the airplane. The pilot was able to maintain control and landed the aircraft without further incident.
The pilot reported the sky was clear, the wind was from the southwest at 12-18 knots, and the temperature was approximately 87 degrees Fahrenheit.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N99236
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1859
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William K. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 17, 2000
- Departed
- GGG · Longview, TX
- Destination
- SEP · Stephenville, TX
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
- 59
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,220 total · 52 in this make and model · 4,246 as pilot in command · 47 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N99236 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.