# NTSB GAA19CA400: Beech 95, N998DM, Navasota, TX, June 29, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 29, 2019, 17:45 UTC - Place: Navasota, TX - Coordinates: 30.388055, -96.087776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3881&lon=-96.0878&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99816 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99816/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99816 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA400 ## Probable cause The airplane’s impact with a bird. ## 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 · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D95A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1153408), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D95A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1153408), [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: [Beech D95A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1153408), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, about 3 minutes after the airplane was leveled off, "a black vulture" struck the windscreen. Subsequently, he returned to the airport and landed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windscreen. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, about three minutes after they had leveled off, "a black vulture" struck the windscreen. The airplane returned to the airport and landed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windscreen. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N998DM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N998DM), registered now, S/N TD-697, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 95 (D95A) - Registry model: [Beech D95A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d95a) (registry code 1153408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TD-697 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 4984 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1B 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-360-B1B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: D & S Aviation Llc, doing business as United Flight System - Registered owner: D & S Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 6, 2019 - Departed: 60R, Navasota, TX - Destination: DHW, Spring, TX - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 413.7 total, 57.4 in this make and model, 310 as pilot in command, 171.5 in the last 90 days, 74.6 in the last 30 days, 6.1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 342.8 total, 6.9 in this make and model, 294.3 as pilot in command, 7.8 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: K11R, 18 nm away ## 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 20190629008489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190629008489A), Jun 29, 2019: Beech D95A, Navasota, TX, Substantial damage. On 6/29/2019 at approximately 1300 CST, a Beech D95A, s/n TD-697, N998DM, operating as a 14 CFR part 91 training flight, struck a large bird about 3 miles… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99816. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.