No fatalities

21 Jul 2019: Cessna 402 C — Cape Air — St. Louis, MO

St. Louis, MO, United States
SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During short final, a pilot maneuvered to avoid a bird. After leveling wings, a second bird passed through the propeller and struck the horizontal stabilizer, causing substantial damage. The airplane landed safely.

Incident Overview

According to a report from the operator's director of safety, the incident occurred during the final approach phase of flight. The pilot executed a rapid maneuver to avoid a bird in the flight path. After rolling the wings to a level attitude, a second bird entered the propeller arc and subsequently struck the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot continued the approach and landed the aircraft without further incident.

Damage and Inspection

The collision resulted in substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The director of safety stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. No other damage or injuries were reported.

Contributing factors

Effect on operationAbility to respond/compensate