Summary
On October 11, 1999, a Piper PA-31 (N74923) was involved in an incident near Soldotna, AK. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: An in-flight collision with a bird.
On October 11, 1999, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31 airplane, N74923, sustained substantial damage when it struck a bird during cruise over Skilak Lake, Alaska, about 15 miles east of Soldotna, Alaska, at 60 degrees 27 minutes north latitude, 150 degrees 29 minutes west longitude. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as scheduled commuter Flight 13. The flight departed the Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, about 1300 for Seward, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC00LA004. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N74923.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
An in-flight collision with a bird.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On October 11, 1999, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31 airplane, N74923, sustained substantial damage when it struck a bird during cruise over Skilak Lake, Alaska, about 15 miles east of Soldotna, Alaska, at 60 degrees 27 minutes north latitude, 150 degrees 29 minutes west longitude. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as scheduled commuter Flight 13. The flight departed the Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, about 1300 for Seward, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed.
During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 12, the pilot stated that while in cruise at 2,500 feet above sea level (msl), the airplane shuddered. He noticed blood on the end of the right horizontal stabilizer, and realized the airplane had struck a bird which he had not seen. He said the airplane did not require any trim changes after the impact. The pilot returned the airplane to Anchorage. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the airplane's right horizontal stabilizer, requiring replacement of the stabilizer assembly.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC00LA004