Sacramento Intl: Wildlife Strikes
4,334 reported strikes · 491 damaging · 1990–2026
📍 Sacramento, US · 38.695, -121.591
Species struck most often
- Cliff swallow294
- Northern pintail152
- Brazilian free-tailed bat145
- Western meadowlark100
- American barn owl81
- Ducks74
- Barn swallow66
- Greater white-fronted goose65
Notable strikes
- 2015-12-26 · B-737-300 · Canada goose · Substantial
Birdstrike to nose of a/c and requested return to ksmf. Negative emergency. Dmg inspn shows a canada goose wedged in the lt elevator. Two duck primary impact points were found on the a/c. One hit the lower rt hand side of the nose and caused no dmg. The other…
- 2017-11-29 · B-737-700 · Northern pintail · Substantial
MOR Remarks: SWA158/B737 departed SMF for SEA. On departure SWA158 encountered a bird strike. SWA158 declared an emergency and informed the controller the right engine was still running however, it was vibrating. They requested to return to SMF. They were…
- 2016-01-08 · A-320 · Greater white-fronted goose · Substantial
Multiple strikes while on downwind aprch to RWY 16l. Dmg to engine #2 cowling, left side pitot tube fuselage area and lt wing l/e. Blood smear on rt wing root with no apparent dmg. Samples taken from the engine and pitot tube. A/c landed w/o incident. A/c
- 2016-01-09 · B-737-7 · Geese · Substantial
Undetermined species of goose. Insufficient diagnostic material for more specific id, 1nm from departure end. Dmg to engine #1 blades. A/c requested to land, tower declared it an inflight emergency and rolled emergency crews. Crew reported never losing an
- 2025-12-07 · B-737-700 · Greater white-fronted goose · Substantial
MULTIPLE SPECIES The strike occurred on 12/7 at 2115, but the strike was not reported to Airside Operations until 1003 on 12/8. AS13 collected information about the strike from Southwest Operations and mechanics, as well as from data on Flightaware. The nose…
Source: FAA National Wildlife Strike Database · United States Government public domain.