- Date
- February 27, 1998, 20:15 local (Feb 28, 1998, 01:15 UTC)
- Place
- Avoca, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1173NMooney M20J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 26, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980227005949A
- Case key
- 39538
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
a bird strike.
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 pilot was being vectored for an ILS approach in night visual meteorological conditions, when he felt a jolt and the airplane descended. He recovered control of the airplane and proceeded directly to the airport, and landed without further difficulty. Post flight examination revealed a goose imbedded in the vertical stabilizer of the airplane.
Factual narrative
On February 27, 1998, about 2015 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N1173N, was substantially damaged when it collided with a goose while on approach to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, Avoca, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Bedford, Massachusetts, about 1830. The flight was conducted on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that he was at 4,000 feet, being vectored for the ILS approach when the bird strike occurred. He further stated:
"...I heard a thud and the airplane suddenly dropped in a hurry. I noticed a very large deflection on the VSI, probably 1,500 FPM, maybe more, maybe less...I pulled hard on the yoke and eventually was able to level the plane. Trim adjustment relieved the down pressure, steering seemed a little funny, but I could place the problem I would bank, but not turn very sharply...."
The pilot then requested to proceed directly to the airport and landed without incident. After engine shutdown, the pilot exited the airplane and found a goose imbedded in the vertical stabilizer. He also stated in the NTSB Report:
"...I had hit a very large goose; squarely in the middle of the Mooney tail, just above the middle set of rivets...The rudder was binding and the whole...[tail] section would bend when I pressed the rudder pedals...The goose impact had rotated the tail around the bolt so that the horizontal stabilizer was in a strong nose down attitude...."
A check of the airport NOTAMS found the following:
"A110-3 BIRDS ON & INVOF ARPT." [Birds on and in the vicinity of the airport.]
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1173N
- Reported as
- Mooney M20J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-1335
- Airframe hours
- 1,307
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Scott E. Cutler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 6, 1998 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- BED · Bedford, MA
- Destination
- AVP
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- AVP · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
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
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 492 total · 152 in this make and model · 463 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.