What happened
On October 23, 2005, at 10:45 UTC, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25, registration OK-ATX, was performing a VFR flight from Prague-Kbely (LKKB) to Kolín (LKKO). After departing from the secondary grass runway 24, the pilot initiated a left turn toward the MCTR LKKB VFR waypoint.
While climbing through 2,100 feet near the southern edge of the village of Úvaly, the aircraft experienced a sudden jolt and a heavy impact against the forward fuselage. The strike caused the cockpit windshield to become nearly opaque, covered in blood and feathers. Following the impact, the pilot noted that the left engine temperature had risen to the edge of critical limits.
In response to the engine instability, the pilot reduced power to both engines and requested priority landing from Prague-Kbely Tower. Although emergency services and technical assistance were offered, the pilot declined as the left engine temperatures stabilized at the maximum allowable limits. Due to the severely obscured visibility through the windshield, the subsequent landing on the secondary grass runway at LKKB was hard.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the aircraft's technical condition, the pilot's qualifications, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid PPL with MU-2 rating and a current medical certificate. The aircraft had undergone its annual inspection approximately six weeks prior to the event and was found to be in airworthy condition. Meteorological data indicated CAVOK conditions with a wind of 250 degrees at 10-12 knots. The investigation also reviewed the ornithological situation for the Kbely CTR/TMA, noting that there were no official indications of bird activity in the airspace at that time.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a bird strike.
- The impact caused physical damage to the left engine, the left propeller, and the left cockpit windshield.
- The pilot could not have reasonably anticipated the presence of birds in the area based on available aeronautical information.
- The aircraft's technical state and the airport infrastructure did not contribute to the occurrence.