# NTSB NYC03LA004: de Havilland DHC-8-102, N847EX, Albany, NY, October 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 2002, 20:20 local (Oct 15, 2002, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Albany, NY - Coordinates: 42.666667, -74.216667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6667&lon=-74.2167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 33 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Allegheny Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55883/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA004 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with birds. A factor was the night conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, descent - normal - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - bird(s) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was descending through 4,000 feet msl, at 200 KIAS, on a dark night, in visual meteorological conditions, when the airport's approach lights illuminated a flock of birds ahead of them. The auto-pilot was disconnected, but there was insufficient time to avoid contact with multiple birds. The airplane was checked for controllability, and no problems were noted, after which a normal landing was made. An after landing inspection revealed bird strikes on the base of the vertical stabilizer, and the about 6 feet outboard of the engine on the right wing. The right wing fuel tank was penetrated, and fuel was observed leaking from the right wing. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 2002, about 2020 eastern daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-8-102, N847EX, operated by Allegheny Airlines Inc., as US Airways Express flight 3927, was substantially damage when it collided with birds while on approach to the Albany International Airport (ALB), Albany, New York. The 2 certificated pilots, 1 flight attendant, and 30 passengers were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the scheduled passenger flight that departed from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington, DC. The flight was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan under 14 CFR Part 121.In a telephone interview, the captain reported the airplane was about 20 miles west of Albany, descending through 4,000 feet, in visual meteorological conditions, with an indicated airspeed of about 200 KIAS. The first officer was the pilot flying, and the auto-pilot was engaged. The runway approach lights were on and a flock of geese were illuminated by the lights. The first officer disconnected the auto-pilot; however, there was insufficient time to avoid the flock. The captain reported that he felt and heard noises which he assumed were birds impacting the airplane. A check was made to determine airplane controllability, and no problems were noted. The flight continued to Albany, and landed uneventfully. The airplane was then taxied to the terminal where the passengers exited through the main cabin door. The captain reported that during his post flight inspection of the airplane, he observed two bird strikes on the airplane. One bird had penetrated the vertical stabilizer, near the base. Another bird entered the right wing about 6 feet outboard of the engine nacelle. Fuel was observed leaking from the wing at the point of penetration on the right wing. Further inspection revealed the right wing fuel tank had been penetrated by the bird.. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N847EX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N847EX-2008-01-02), registration cancelled 2008-01-02, S/N 333, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-8-102 - Registry model: [Bombardier DHC-8-103](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-dhc-8-103) (registry code 1390003) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW121](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw121) (registry code 52124, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 333 - Airframe hours: 24047 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW 120A 2000 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Allegheny Airlines, doing business as US Airways Express - Registered owner: Bombardier Capital, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 25, 2002, 360 hours before - Departed: DCA, Washington, DC - Destination: ALB, Albany, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ALB, Albany International Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 24, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 6,100 total, 3,600 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 24, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 3,700 total, 2,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: ALB, 20 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 20021014026679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021014026679A), Oct 14, 2002: Dhav DHC8102, Albany, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) A DHC-8 aircraft was enroute from dca to alb. 10 miles west of alb at 0015Z descending through 4,000FT MSL a flock of 10-15 geese were encountered. The… 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.