Bird Strike
Committee-USA
Significant Bird
and other Wildlife Strikes
The following is a selected list of wildlife strikes to civil and
military aircraft.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through an interagency agreement with the
Federal Aviation Administration, compiles a database of all reported
bird/wildlife strikes to
U.S. civil
aircraft and to foreign carriers experiencing strikes in the
USA. Over 80,000
strike reports from over 1,550 airports have been compiled, 1990-2007 (over
7,100 strikes in 2007). The FAA estimates that this represents only about 20% of
the strikes that have occurred. The following historical examples of strikes
from 1905-1989 and examples from the database from 1990-2007 are presented to
show the serious impact that strikes by birds or other wildlife can have on
aircraft. These examples demonstrate the widespread and diverse nature of the
problem and are not intended to criticize individual airports. Many of the
strike examples reported here occurred off airport property during descent,
approach or climb
7 September
1905.
From the Wright
Brothers diaries, “Orville … flew 4,751 meters in 4 minutes 45 seconds, four
complete circles. Twice passed over
fence into Beard's cornfield.
Chased flock of birds for two rounds and killed one which fell on top of
the upper surface and after a time fell off when swinging a sharp curve.” This was the first reported
bird-aircraft strike. Because of
the location near Dayton,
Ohio
and time of year, the bird struck was probably a red-winged
blackbird.
3 April 1912.
Calbraith Rodgers, the first person to fly across the continental
USA, was also the first to die as a result of a
bird strike. On 3 April 1912, Rodgers’ Wright Pusher struck a gull,
causing the aircraft to crash into the surf at Long Beach, California.
Rodgers was pinned under the wreckage and drowned.
10 March 1960.
A Lockheed Electra turbo-prop ingested European starlings into all 4
engines during takeoff from Boston Logan Airport (MA). The plane crashed into
Boston Harbor, killing 62 people. Following this accident, the FAA
initiated action to develop minimum bird ingestion standards for turbine-powered
engines.
26 February 1973.
On departure from
Atlanta, Georgia's Peachtree-Dekalb Airport, a Lear 24 jet struck a flock of
brown-headed cowbirds attracted to a nearby trash transfer station. Engine failure resulted. The aircraft crashed, killing 8 people
and seriously injuring 1 person on the ground. This incident prompted the FAA to
develop guidelines concerning the location of solid waste disposal facilities on
or near airports.
12 November 1975.
On departure roll from John F. Kennedy International Airport (NY), the
pilot of a DC-10 aborted takeoff after ingesting gulls into 1 engine. The plane ran off runway and caught fire
as a result of engine fire and overheated brakes. The resultant fire destroyed the
aircraft. All 138 people on board,
airline personnel trained in emergency evacuation, evacuated safely. Following this accident, the National
Transportation Safety Board recommended the FAA evaluate the effect of bird
ingestion on large, high-bypass, turbofan engines and the adequacy of engine
certification standards. The FAA
Initiated a nationwide data collection effort to document bird strike and engine
ingestion events.
25 July 1978.
A Convair 580 departing Kalamazoo Airport (MI)
ingested 1 American kestrel into an engine on takeoff. Aircraft auto-feathered and crashed in
nearby field, injuring 3 of 43 passengers.
18 June
1983. The pilot of a Bellanca 1730, landing at Clifford TX, saw 2 “buzzards” on
final approach. He added power and
maneuvered to avoid them, then continued approach. This resulted in landing beyond intended
point. The middle of runway was
higher than either end; therefore, pilot was unable to see a large canine moving
toward the landing area until aircraft was halfway down runway. A go-around was initiated but the
lowered landing gear hit some treetops causing the pilot to loose control. The aircraft came to rest in a milo field about 250 yards from initial tree impact after
flying through additional trees.
Aircraft suffered substantial damage, and 2 people in aircraft were
seriously injured.
6 January 1985.
A Beechcraft King Air 90 departing Smith Reynolds Airport (NC) at dusk
hit a large feral dog on runway just at rotation. Aircraft suffered substantial
damage.
17 March
1987.
A Boeing-737 struck an 80-pound deer at Chicago O’Hare (IL) airport. The aircraft suffered over $114,000 in
damage.
5 November 1990.
During takeoff at Michiana Regional Airport
(IN), a BA-31 flew through a flock of mourning doves. Several birds were ingested in both
engines and takeoff was aborted.
Both engines were destroyed.
Cost of repairs was $1 million and time out of service was 60 hours.
30 December 1991.
A Citation 550, taking off from Angelina County Airport (TX) struck a
turkey vulture. The strike caused
major damage to #1 engine and resulting shrapnel caused minor damage to the wing
and fuselage. Cost of repairs was
$550,000 and time out of service was 2 weeks.
2 February 1992.
A Piper Cherokee struck a deer at rotation during takeoff from Sandstone
Municipal Airport (MN). The pilot
attempted to turn back to airport but impacted into trees just south of
airport. Aircraft was destroyed and
pilot seriously injured.
3 December 1993.
A Cessna 550 struck a flock of geese during initial climb out of DuPage County Airport (IL). Pilot heard a loud bang and aircraft
yawed to left and right.
Instruments showed loss of power to #2 engine
and a substantial fuel leak on the left side. An emergency was declared and the
aircraft landed at Midway Airport.
Cost to repair 2 engines was $800,000 and time out of service was about 3
months.
21 October 1994.
A Cessna 210 struck a coyote during landing roll at Higginsville
Industrial Municipal Airport (MO) at night. Nose gear collapsed, causing the
propeller to hit runway, resulting in major damage to engine and
crankshaft.
3 June 1995.
An Air France Concorde, at about 10 feet
AGL while landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (NY), ingested 1 or 2
Canada geese into the #3 engine. The engine suffered an uncontained
failure. Shrapnel from the #3
engine destroyed the #4 engine and cut several hydraulic lines and control
cables. The pilot was able to land
the plane safely but the runway was closed for several hours. Damage to the Concorde was estimated at
over $7 million. The French
Aviation Authority sued the Port Authority of New York and
New
Jersey
and eventually settled out of court for $5.3 million.
5 October 1996.
A Boeing-727 departing Washington Reagan
National Airport (DC) struck a flock of gulls just after takeoff, ingesting at
least 1 bird. One engine began to
vibrate and was shut down. A
burning smell entered the cockpit.
An emergency was declared and the aircraft, carrying 52 passengers,
landed at Washington National.
Several engine blades were damaged.
7 January 1997.
An MD-80 aircraft
struck over 400 blackbirds just after takeoff from Dallas-Fort Worth
International Airport (TX). Almost
every part of the plane was hit.
Pilot declared an emergency and returned to land without event. Substantial damage was found on various
parts of the aircraft and the #1 engine had to be replaced. The runway was closed for 1 hour. The birds had been attracted to an
un-harvested wheat field on the airport.
9 January 1998.
While climbing
through 3,000 feet, following takeoff from Houston Intercontinental Airport
(TX), a Boeing-727 struck a flock of snow geese with 3-5 birds ingested into 1
engine. The engine lost all power
and was destroyed. The radome was
torn from aircraft and leading edges of both wings were damaged. The pitot tube
for first officer was torn off.
Intense vibration was experienced in airframe and noise level in cockpit
increased to point that communication among crewmembers became difficult. An emergency was declared. The flight returned safely to
Houston with major damage to
aircraft.
22 February 1999.
A Boeing-757 departing Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
(KY) had to return and make emergency landing after hitting large flock of
starlings. Both engines and 1 wing
received extensive damage. About
400 dead starlings were found on runway area.
07 February 2000.
An American-owned cargo company’s DC-10-30 departing
Subic Bay, Philippines ingested a fruit bat into 1 engine at 250
feet AGL. Aircraft returned to
airport. Five damaged fan blades
had to be replaced. Time out of
service was 3 days. Total repair
and related costs exceeded $3 million.
21 January 2001.
The #3 engine on an MD-11 departing Portland International Airport (OR)
ingested a herring gull during take-off run. The bird ingestion resulted in a
fractured fan blade. Damage from the fan blade fracture resulted in the
liberation of the forward section of the inlet cowl. Portions of the inlet cowl
were ingested back into the engine and shredded. The pilot aborted takeoff
during which two tires failed. The 217 passengers were safely deplaned and
rerouted to other flights. Bird ID by Smithsonian, Division of
Birds.
09 March 2002.
A Canadair RJ 200 at Dulles International
Airport (VA) struck 2 wild turkeys during the takeoff roll. One shattered the windshield spraying
the cockpit with glass fragments and remains. Another hit the fuselage and was
ingested. There was a 14- by 4-inch
section of fuselage skin damaged below the windshield seal on the flight
officer’s side. Cost of repairs
estimated at $200,000. Time out of
service was at least 2 weeks.
19 October 2002.
A Boeing 767 departing Logan International Airport (MA) encountered a
flock of over 20 double-crested cormorants. At least 1 cormorant was ingested
into #2 engine. There were immediate indications of
engine surging followed by compression stall and smoke from engine. The engine
was shutdown. Overweight landing with 1 engine was made without incident. Nose
cowl was dented and punctured. There was significant fan blade damage with
abnormal engine vibration. One fan blade was found on the runway. Aircraft was
towed to the ramp. Hydraulic lines
were leaking and several bolts were sheared off inside engine. Many pieces fell
out when the cowling was opened. Aircraft was out of service for 3 days. Cost of
repairs was $1.7 million.
8 January 2003.
A Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8 collided with a flock of lesser scaup at 1,300 feet AGL on approach to Rogue Valley
International Airport (OR). At
least 1 bird penetrated the cabin and hit the pilot who turned control over to
the first officer for landing. Emergency power switched on when the birds
penetrated the radome and damaged the DC power system and instruments systems.
The pilot was treated for cuts and released from the
hospital.
04 September 2003.
A Fokker 100 struck a flock of at least 5
Canada geese over runway shortly after takeoff at
LaGuardia Airport (NY), ingesting 1 or 2 geese into #2 engine. Engine
vibration occurred. Pilot was
unable to shut engine down with the fuel cutoff lever so fire handle was pulled
and engine finally shut down, but vibration continued. The flight was diverted
to nearby JFK International Airport where a landing was made. The NTSB found a
20- by 36-inch wide depression on right side of nose behind radome. Maximum
depth was 4 inches. Impact marks on right wing. A fan blade separated from the
disk and penetrated the fuselage.
Several fan blades were deformed. Holes were found in the engine
cowling. Remains were recovered and
identified by Wildlife Services.
17 February 2004.
A Boeing 757 during takeoff run from Portland International Airport (OR)
hit 5 mallards and returned with 1 engine out. At least 1 bird was ingested and
parts of 5 birds were collected from the runway. Engine damage was not
repairable and engine had to be replaced. Cost was $2.5 million and time out of
service was 3 days.
15 April 2004.
An Airbus 319
climbing out of Portland International Airport (OR) ingested a great blue heron
into the #2 engine, causing extensive damage. Pilot shut the engine down as a
precaution and made an emergency landing. Runway was closed 38 minutes for
cleaning. Flight was cancelled. Engine and nose cowl were replaced. Time out of
service was 72 hours. Damage totaled $388,000.
14 June 2004.
A Boeing 737 struck a great
horned owl during a nighttime landing roll at Greater Pittsburgh International
Airport (PA). The bird severed a
cable in front main gear. The steering failed, the
aircraft ran off the runway and became stuck in mud. Passengers were bused to the terminal.
They replaced 2 nose wheels, 2 main wheels and brakes. Aircraft out of service
was 24 hours. Cost estimated at $20,000.
16 September 2004.
A MD 80 departing Chicago
O’Hare (IL) hit several double-crested cormorants at 3,000 feet AGL and 4 miles
from airport. The #1 engine caught
fire and failed, sending metal debris to the ground in a
Chicago neighborhood. The aircraft made an emergency landing
back at O’Hare with no injuries to the 107 passengers.
24 October 2004.
A Boeing 767 departing
Chicago O’Hare (IL) hit a flock of birds during takeoff run. A compressor stall caused the engine to
flame out. A fire department got
calls from local residents who reported seeing flames coming from the plane.
Pilot dumped approximately 11,000 gallons of fuel over Lake Michigan before returning to land. Feathers found in
engine were sent to the Smithsonian, Division of Birds for identification.
30 March 2005.
A SA 227, landing at Dade-Collier Training and Transportation Airport
(FL), hit the last deer in a group of 8 crossing the runway, causing a prop to
detach and puncture the fuselage. Also damaged was the nose wheel steering and
right engine nacelle. Aircraft was a write-off due to cost of repairs $580,000
being close to the plane’s value of $650,000.
1 September 2005.
A Falcon 20
departing Lorain County (OH) Airport hit a flock of mourning doves at rotation,
causing the #1 engine to flame out. As the gear was retracted, the aircraft hit
another flock which caused the #2 engine RPM to roll-back. The pilot was not
able to sustain airspeed or altitude and crash-landed, sliding through a ditch
and airport perimeter fence, crossing a highway and ending in a corn field.
Aircraft sustained major structural damage beyond economical repairs. Both
pilots were taken to hospital. Costs totaled $1.4 million.
16 October 2005.
A BE-1900 departing Ogdensburg International (NY) struck a coyote during
take-off run. The nose gear collapsed causing the plane to skid to a stop on the
runway. Propeller blades went through the skin of the aircraft. Engine #1 and
#2, propellers, landing gear, nose, fuselage had major damage. Insurance declared aircraft a total
loss. Cost of repairs would have been $1.5 million.
30 December
2005. A
Bell 206 helicopter Pilot flying a
Bell 206 helicopter at 500 feet AGL
near Washington,
LA looked up from instruments to see a large
vulture crashing into the windshield. He was temporarily blinded by blood and
wind. After regaining control, the pilot tried to land in a bean field nearby
but blood was hampering his vision and the left skid hit the ground first
causing the aircraft to tip on its side. Pilot was taken to the hospital and had
several surgeries to repair his face, teeth and eye. Aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Cost of repairs would have been $1.5
million.
1 January
2006. A B-757
ingested a great blue heron into an engine during take-off at Portland
International (OR). Engine was shut
down and a one-engine landing was made. Fan section of the engine was
replaced. Time out of service was
15 hours. Cost was $244,000.
3 August 2006. A Cessna Citation 560 departing a General
Aviation airport in Indiana hit
Canada geese on
the take-off run. Left engine
ingested birds causing an uncontained failure. Aircraft went off the runway
during the aborted takeoff. Top cowling and fan were replaced. ID by the
Smithsonian, Division of Birds. Aircraft was out of service for 13 days and
costs were estimated at $750,000.
18 August
2006. A CL-RJ 200 departing Salt Lake
City International
Airport flew through a flock of
northern pintails (ducks) at 500 feet AGL.
Pilot saw 2 birds and felt them hit the engines. Engines began to
vibrate. Aircraft landed without
incident and was towed to the hanger. ID by the Smithsonian, Division of Birds.
Time out of service was over 24 hours and costs to repair engines totaled
$811,825.
8 December
2006. The Captain of
a B-767 departing JFK
International
Airport saw 2 birds during initial
climb. After bird was ingested into
#2 engine, pilot returned aircraft to JFK on Alert 3-3.
One badly damaged great blue heron was recovered from the runway. Carcass
appeared to have gone through the #2 engine. The engine was replaced and
passengers were put on a replacement aircraft.
15 March
2007. A B-767
departing Chicago O’Hare encountered a flock of birds at <500 feet AGL.
People on ground reported flames shooting out of the #1 engine. The aircraft
returned to land without incident and was towed to the terminal. Birds were ingested in both engines, but
only 1 engine was damaged. Remains
of nine male canvasback ducks were found near the departure end of runway 9R. ID
by the Smithsonian, Division of Birds. Time out of service was 12 days.
Estimated cost for repairs is $1.8 million. Cost for aircraft’s time out of
service was $309,000.
7 July 2007. A
U.S. carrier
B-767 flew through a large flock of yellow-legged gulls at 20 feet AGL during
departure at Fiumcino
International
Airport
(Rome,
Italy). The pilot dumped fuel before returning
to land on one engine. Besides birds being ingested into both engines, birds hit
the cockpit window, right engine nose cowl, wing, and right main undercarriage.
The main gear struts were deflated. Some of the fan blades had large chunks
taken out. The left engine had many fan blades damaged midway along the blade
leading edge. Both engines were
replaced. The replacement engines
had to be flown to Rome from the
USA. ID by ornithologist, a
member of Bird Strike Committee Italy. Time out of service 1
week.
25 August
2007. Pilot of B-737 departing
Texas El
Paso Airport reported
loud bang in cockpit at 14,000 feet AGL during climb. Loud rushing air noise,
cabin started to depressurize. Cabin alt horn went off, oxygen masks were
donned. Pilot descended to 10,000
feet, notified flight attendants of situation, and then landed at
El Paso. Found large hole under
captain’s left foot side. Also, hole in left horizontal stabilizer the size of a
football. First officer’s side of cockpit had a dent. Blood and feathers were
found. No birds were seen in flight. Ground crew said “turkey buzzards” were in
area. Bird was identified as marbled godwit by Smithsonian, Division of Birds.
Cost of repairs was $144,064. Time out of service was 3 days.
15 July 1996;
Belgian Air Force Lockheed C-130; Eindhoven,
Netherlands:
The aircraft struck a flock of birds during approach and crashed short of the
runway. All four crew members and 30 of the 37 passengers were killed.
14 July 1996;
NATO E-3 AWACS; Aktion,
Greece:
The aircraft struck a flock of birds during takeoff. The crew aborted the
takeoff and the aircraft overran the runway. The aircraft was not repaired, but
none of the crew was seriously injured.
22 September 1995; U.S. Air Force E-3 AWACS; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska:
During takeoff as the aircraft was passing rotation speed, the aircraft struck
about three dozen geese, ingesting at least three into engine two and at least
one into engine one. The aircraft was unable to maintain controlled flight and
crashed in a forest about 1 mile (1.6 km) beyond the runway. All 24 occupants
were killed.
September 1987;
U.S.
Air Force B1-B;
Colorado,
USA:
Aircraft lost control and crashed after a large bird struck the wing root area
and damage a hydraulic system. The aircraft was on a low level, high speed
training mission. Only three of the six occupants were able to successfully bail
out. .
1980; Royal Air Force Nimrod; Kinloss
Scotland:
Aircraft lost control and crashed after ingesting a number of birds into
multiple engines.
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