- Date
- February 9, 2018, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Keller, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2829NCessna 140
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Birdstrike
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 27, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180209002209A
- Case key
- 96737
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 pilot's inability to gain altitude normally in order to avoid a flock of ducks flying overhead during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane striking a fence.
Findings · 3
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
The pilot reported that during takeoff, a flock of ducks crossed his flightpath, and with insufficient runway remaining to reject the takeoff , he remained low to fly under them. Unable to climb, the airplane's tailwheel struck a fence post beyond the departure end of the runway. The pilot returned and landed safely, however the airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and the right elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff, a flock of ducks crossed his flight path, and with insufficient runway remaining to reject the landing, he remained low to fly under them. Unable to climb, the airplane's tailwheel struck a fencepost beyond the departure end of the runway. The pilot returned and landed safely, however the airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and the right elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2829N
- Reported as
- Cessna 140 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 13090
- Built
- 1947
- Airframe hours
- 3,280
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 22, 2017
- Departed
- 7TX4 · Keller, TX
- Destination
- LNC · Lancaster, TX
- Airport
- 7TX4 · Hillcrest, runway 17, 2,000 × 30 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS
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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Waiver time limited special
- Last flight review
- October 12, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 3,321 total · 700 in this make and model · 3,321 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- KAFW, 2 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 18, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.