# NTSB GAA20CA054: Beech 200, N850BK, New Braunfels, TX, October 31, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 31, 2019, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: New Braunfels, TX - Coordinates: 29.774999, -97.977775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7750&lon=-97.9778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100529/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100529 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA054 ## Probable cause The airplane’s in-flight collision 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 · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1152920), [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 · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1152920), [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-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1152920), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane was descending through 2,500 ft while about 200 knots when a single bird struck the upper left corner of the pilot-side windshield. The windshield was broken and cracked by the impact. The pilot was seriously injured by flying glass that ejected from the broken inner ply's surface, which affected his vision. The passenger in the cabin moved up into the copilot's seat, and while being instructed by the pilot, landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained minor damage to the windshield. 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, the airplane was descending through 2,500 ft, at about 200 knots, when a single bird, in a dive, struck the upper left corner of the pilot's side windshield. The windshield was broken and crazed by the impact. The pilot was seriously injured by the flying glass ejected from the broken inner ply's surface which affected his vision. The passenger in the cabin moved up into the co-pilot' seat and, while instructed by the pilot, landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained minor damage to the windshield. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N850BK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N850BK), registered now, S/N BB-896, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 200 (B200) - Registry model: [Beech 200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-200) (registry code 1152920) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-42) (registry code 52062, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BB-896 - Year built: 1981 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-42 850 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6-42 850 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: RPM Consulting LLC - Registered owner: RPM Consulting LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ADS, Dallas, TX - Destination: BAZ, New Braunfels, TX - Equipment: Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 10, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 8,500 total, 3,400 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KBAZ ## 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 20191031020539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191031020539A), Oct 31, 2019: Beech 200, New Braunfels, TX, Minor damage. On October 31, 2019 at 17:00 CDT, a Beech king air 200, N850BK, registered to RPM consulting LLC, suffered a bird strike to the pilots windshield. The aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 5, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100529. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481034&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Wildlife and Smithsonian Wildlife Identification Report (item 3, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Wildlife%20and%20Smithsonian%20Wildlife%20Identification%20Report-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 4, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.