Smith Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46802
Tuesady, October 18, 1994 16:16 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 23, AND HAD JUST REACHED FLYING SPEED WHEN THE PILOT SAW A FLOCK OF GEESE APPROACHING FROM HIS RIGHT. THE GEESE STRUCK THE AIRPLANE, BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD AND HITTING THE PILOT. THE PILOT SAID HE CUT POWER TO THE ENGINES AND LANDED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE SAID HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT TO MISS TREES AND A HOUSE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO SLIDING INTO A COMMERCIAL RETAIL BUILDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the in-flight collision with birds(geese). A factors associated with the accident was the building which was contacted.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/18/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1616
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FT. WAYNE
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46802
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SMITH FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SMD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 857
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1624 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 185
Weather Observation Facility ID FWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1812
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 18 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83KK
NTSB Number CHI95LA016
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 58
Aircraft Series Identifier 58
Aircraft Serial Number TH1666
Certified Max Gross Weight 5524
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 19 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 338
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID M. KUNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 913 CREEKSIDE LANE
Aircraft Owner City PLAINFIELD
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46168
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SMD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1616
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IND
Destination City INDIANAPOLIS
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 3110
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --