N5293X

On October 5, 2000, about 1850 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 206 airplane, N5293X, sustained substantial damage following an in-flight collision with several birds, about 10 miles west of Kiana, Alaska, about latitude 66 degrees, 58 minutes north, and longitude 160 degrees, 53 minutes west. The airplane was being operated by Baker Aviation, Kotzebue, Alaska, under Title 14, CFR Part 135, as Flight 426, a visual flight rules, scheduled domestic passenger flight, when the accident occurred. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Bob Baker Memorial Airport, Kiana, about 1845.

On October 9, 2000, the director of maintenance for the operator reported the pilot departed Kiana, en route to Kotzebue, without any passengers. While in cruise flight at 2,000 feet msl, the pilot heard and felt a thump. The windshield became covered in blood, and the pilot noticed the oil access door was open. He returned to Kiana and discovered several areas of impact with birds that included the windshield, vertical stabilizer, the right wing root, and the right wingtip. An examination of the right wing by the director of maintenance revealed aft crushing of the leading edge, and damage to a nose rib, about six inches inboard from the tip.