On July 13, 2002, a DE Havilland DHC-6 (registration N885EA) was involved in an aviation accident near Toksook Bay, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A bird strike during takeoff, which resulted in damage to the right wing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A scheduled air carrier flight encountered a flock of birds shortly after takeoff, resulting in minor damage to the right wing leading edge and ribs before landing safely.
What happened
The aircraft was operating as a scheduled air carrier flight. Shortly after lifting off from the runway and initiating its climb phase, the plane encountered a flock of birds. One or more of these birds struck the right wing of the airplane.
Despite the impact, the pilot continued the flight to the intended destination without further incident. The aircraft landed safely at the airport.
The investigation
Post-flight inspections revealed damage to the airframe. Specifically, approximately 6 feet of the right wing's leading edge required replacement. Additionally, two wing ribs were damaged and needed replacement due to the bird strike.