# NTSB WPR11CA299: Piper PA-31-350, N59798, Casper, WY, June 30, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 30, 2011, 05:53 local (11:53 UTC) - Place: Casper, WY - Coordinates: 42.898545, -106.46544 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8985&lon=-106.4654&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 80952 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80952/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80952 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA299 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bird at low altitude. ## 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: [Piper PA-31-350, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7103110), [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. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated he was landing and was approximately 5 to 10 feet from touchdown when a large bird hit and broke the front center windshield of his airplane. With the bird covering his entire windscreen the pilot reacted by quickly moving his body to the right to avoid the bird, which had penetrated the windscreen. Subsequently the airplane's left wing came into contact with the runway surface causing the airplane to nose into the ground, severely damaging the left wing, collapsing the left landing gear, and bending both propellers. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he was landing on runway 21 and was approximately 5 to 10 feet from touchdown when a large bird hit and broke the front center windshield of his airplane. With the bird covering his entire windscreen the pilot reacted by quickly moving his body to the right to avoid the bird, which had penetrated the windscreen. Subsequently the airplane's left wing came into contact with the runway surface causing the airplane to nose into the ground, severely damaging the left wing, collapsing the left landing gear, and bending both propellers. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59798](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59798-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 31-7652071, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7652071 - Airframe hours: 15502 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Fowler Richard L - Registered owner: Fowler Richard L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 12, 2011, 47 hours before - Departed: BJC, Broomfield, CO - Destination: KCPR, Casper, WY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KCPR, Casper/Natrona County, runway 21, 10,165 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 23,238 total, 12,100 in this make and model, 23,238 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: variable at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Observed at: KCPR, 12 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 20110630011719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110630011719A), Jun 30, 2011: Piper PA-31-350, Casper, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control of the aircraft when a large bird (possibly an owl) flew at the pilot's windshield just before touchdown. Pilot apparently ducked and pushed… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80952. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1 photo, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Landing gear collapsed (item 2, .PDF, 867 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Landing%20gear%20collapsed-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Left wing torn (item 3, .PDF, 797 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Left%20wing%20torn-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Hole in window (item 4, .PDF, 814 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Hole%20in%20window-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.