# NTSB GAA19CA557: Beech 35, N9422S, Fort Myers, FL, August 23, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 23, 2019, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Myers, FL - Coordinates: 26.643333, -81.710281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6433&lon=-81.7103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100299 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA557 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100299/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100299 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA557 ## Probable cause The airplane’s impact 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 operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1151538), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the downwind leg of the approach and as the airplane was about 1,000 ft above ground level, a bird struck the propeller and cowling. The pilot was able to land the airplane without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed bird feathers in the engine compartment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and forward fuselage. 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 the downwind leg of an approach, about 1,000 ft above the ground, a bird struck the airplane's propeller and cowling. The pilot was able to maneuver and land the airplane without further incident. A post-accident examination revealed bird feathers in engine compartment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9422S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9422S), registered now, S/N D-8020, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35 (V35) - Registry model: [Beech V35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35) (registry code 1151538) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-8020 - Year built: 1965 - Engines: Continental IO550B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2019 - Departed: X59, Valkaria, FL - Destination: FL59, Fort Myers, FL - Airport: FL59, Buckingham Field, runway 14, 4,046 × 400 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 3,560 total, 650 in this make and model, 3,560 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F - Observed at: KRSW, 7 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 20190823014809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190823014809A), Aug 23, 2019: Beech V35, Fort Myers, FL, Substantial damage. On August 23, 2019, at 1100 EST, a Beech craft BE35, N9422S, was hit by a turkey vulture on the pilot's upper engine cowling while on approach to Fort Myers… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100299. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480147&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480148&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.