- Date
- April 19, 2019
- Place
- Saipan
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4599XPiper PA32
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Birdstrike
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190419003059A
- Case key
- 99437
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 airplane’s collision with a bird during the initial climb, which resulted in the engine cowling separating and impacting the empennage.
Findings · 2
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 operator reported that, during the initial climb, about 1,500 ft, the pilot and passengers reported hearing and feeling an impact. Subsequently, the upper left engine cowling separated and struck the windshield. The pilot declared an emergency, returned to the departure airport, and landed without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed traces of blood on the propeller, the left wing leading edge, and the vertical stabilizer leading edge. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage, which was consistent with impact damage from the separated engine cowling. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The operator reported that, during the initial climb, about 1,500 ft, the pilot and passengers reported hearing and feeling an impact. The upper left engine cowling separated and struck the windshield. The pilot declared an emergency, returned to the departure airport, and landed without further incident Postaccident examination revealed traces of blood on the propeller, left wing leading edge, and the vertical stabilizer leading edge. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage, which was consistent with impact damage from the separated engine cowling. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4599X
- Reported as
- Piper PA32 (300)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7640040
- Built
- 1975
- Airframe hours
- 8,625.48
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1A5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Star Marianas Air Inc
- Registered owner
- Star Marianas Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · April 3, 2019
- Departed
- GSN · Saipan
- Destination
- TNI · Tinian Island
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- GSN · Saipan International Airport
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Auto-pilot
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
- 44
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 13, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,268 total · 425 in this make and model · 816 as pilot in command · 229 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Observed at
- PGSN, 1 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.7 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.