- Date
- October 6, 1999, 22:30 local (Oct 7, 1999, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Philadelphia, PA
- Injuries
- 15 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N818EXBoeing - Canada DHC-8-102
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report August 10, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19991006037309A
- Case key
- 47576
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
An in flight collision with birds.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The Captain stated that he was in cruise flight, about 5 nautical miles north of the airport, approximately 3,000 feet mean-sea-level, when he encountered multiple bird strikes.
Factual narrative
On October 6, 1999, about 2230 Eastern Daylight Time, a Bombardier de Havilland DHC-8-102, N818EX, sustained substantial damage while in cruise flight, approximately 5 miles north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The airplane was owned by Seventh Leasing Corporation, and operated by Allegheny Airlines Inc. The 3 crewmembers and 12 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; destined for Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown Pennsylvania. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the passenger flight conducted under 14 CFR part 121.
According to the Captain's written statement:
"Multiple large bird strikes at 3000' MSL about 5 NM North of PHL. Had departed PHL for ABE, and leveled of(f) at cruise. While we suspected multiple strikes, only one impact sound was heard as apparently all birds hit at the same time. Extensive damage was not suspected, so flight continued to ABE..."
The airplane was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. The Inspector observed an approximate 12-inch hole in the front spar of the left wing. He also noted damage to the propellers and radome.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N818EX
- Reported as
- Boeing - Canada DHC-8-102
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 235
- Airframe hours
- 21,363
- Engine
- P&W PW120A, 2,000 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Allegheny Airlines Inc.
- Registered owner
- Seventh Hfc Leasing Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · August 4, 1999 · 307 hours before
- Departed
- PHL · PA
- Destination
- ABE · Allentown, PA
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 19,260 total · 6,500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 10° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PHL, 180 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.