# NTSB GAA18CA435: Cessna 560, N866VP, Tulsa, OK, July 23, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 23, 2018, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Tulsa, OK
- Coordinates: 36.19889, -95.883888 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1989&lon=-95.8839&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97863
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA435
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97863/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97863
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA435

## Probable cause

The airplane’s collision with a bird during approach.

## 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [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.

- [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during approach, he observed a bird flying nearby and then heard a "thump" and felt an impact above his head. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed that a bird had impacted the airplane's vertical stabilizer, which sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during approach, he observed a bird flying in the vicinity and then heard a "thump" and felt an impact above his head. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed that a bird had impacted the airplane's vertical stabilizer, which sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N866VP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 560 (Undesignat)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 560-0704
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 2574.4
- Engines: P&WC PW535A 3400 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&WC PW535A 3400 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Burgess Aircraft Management, LLC, doing business as OzAir Charter Service
- Registered owner: Encore N866vp Llc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: SGF, Springfield, MO
- Destination: TUL, Tulsa, OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TUL, Tulsa Intl, runway 36L, 6,101 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 6, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,130 total, 835 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,000 total, 275 in this make and model, 4,600 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 16,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KTUL

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97863. 980 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467837&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467838&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.

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