BEECH F33A

Houston, TX — June 10, 2011

Event Information

DateJune 10, 2011
Event TypeACC
NTSB NumberCEN11CA391
Event ID20110615X14727
LocationHouston, TX
CountryUSA
Coordinates29.81750, -95.67028
Highest InjuryNONE

Aircraft

MakeBEECH
ModelF33A
CategoryAIR
FAR Part091
Aircraft DamageSUBS

Conditions

Light ConditionDAYL
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
None1
Total Injured0

Event Location

Probable Cause

An in-flight collision with a bird during initial climb.

Full Narrative

The pilot had just departed and was about 13 miles from the airport when he saw a large bird pass by the passenger side windshield. He did not feel or hear it strike the airplane, but within a few minutes of seeing the bird he began to smell a foul odor. The pilot visually confirmed that the bird had struck the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer causing substantial damage. The pilot made a 180 degree turn and landed uneventfully back at the departure airport.

About This NTSB Record

This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

All Aviation Events More in TX