# NTSB SEA01LA077: Cessna 172S, N435SP, Renton, WA, April 24, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 24, 2001, 09:43 local (16:43 UTC) - Place: Renton, WA - Coordinates: 47.459316, -122.209678 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4593&lon=-122.2097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52137 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52137/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA077 ## Probable cause A Canadian goose which crossed the aircraft's flight path and impacted the left wing during the aircraft's final approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - bird(s) (cause) ## Analysis The pilot-in-command, accompanied by a check pilot flight instructor, was on final approach to land on runway 15 in the Cessna 172S when two Canada geese came into the pilots field of view, flying from right to left. The aircraft was descending through 50 feet AGL and the geese were initially shielded from the pilots' view by the aircraft until they were past the nose. The pilot elected to not take any evasive action, but rather be prepared to control the airplane in the case of a collision. The pilot heard and felt a 'thump,' but did not experience any difficulty in controlling the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 2001, at 0943 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N435SP, registered to a private owner, and being flown by a private pilot accompanied by a commercially rated check pilot (flight instructor), was substantially damaged when a Canadian goose impacted the left wing leading edge damaging the wing spar while the aircraft was on short final to runway 15 at the Renton Municipal airport, Renton, Washington. Both pilots were uninjured and the aircraft was successfully landed with no further damage. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight had been filed. The flight, which was being conducted as a checkout in the aircraft for the Boeing Employees Flying Association (lessor of the aircraft), was operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and was local in nature. The pilot-in-command (left seat) reported that he and the flight instructor (right seat) were conducting the first touch-and-go landing associated with the PIC's sixth month check ride. He reported that: "The airplane was over the numbers, landing to the South on runway 15, at an altitude of less than 50 ft AGL, flaps 30 degrees, throttle at or near idle, when two Canada geese came into the pilots field of view, flying from right to left. The geese were lower than the aircraft and shielded from the pilots' view by the aircraft until they were past the nose. They appeared to be gaining altitude relative to the aircraft. Being relatively close to the ground, and at an airspeed of approximately 60KTS, the pilot elected to not take any evasive action, but rather be prepared to control the airplane in the case of a collision. The birds passed out of the pilots' field of view. He heard and felt a 'thump,' but did not experience any difficulty in controlling the airplane. He completed the landing and exited the runway." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N435SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N435SP), registered now, S/N 172S8304, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8304 - Airframe hours: 655 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Boeing Employees Flying Association - Registered owner: Erik G. Lawyer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 2000, 197 hours before - Departed: RNT, Renton, WA - Airport: RNT, Renton Municipal, runway 15, 5,379 × 200 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 21, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 376 total, 228 in this make and model, 238 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Check pilot; injuries: none - Check pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 28, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 1,660 total, 965 in this make and model, 1,556 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: RNT ## 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 20010424008019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010424008019A), Apr 24, 2001: Cessna 172S, Renton, WA, No damage. (-23)Aircraft struck a large goose at about 50 feet AGL while on approach to landing onto runway 15, Renton, Washington, during touch and go landings. 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.