Matinicus Island Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Matincus Island, Maine 04851
Sunday, July 8, 2007 16:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he had turned onto short final for runway 18, when an eagle appeared very close to the right side of the airplane. He made a steep left turn to avoid the eagle, and applied full power, in an effort to clear the tree line to the left of the runway; however, the nose landing gear impacted the trees. The airplane subsequently impacted the left side of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An evasive maneuver to avoid a bird, while on final approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/8/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Matincus Island
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04851
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 435216N
Event Location Longitude 0685336W
Event Location Airport Matinicus Island Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 35ME
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 15
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1615 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID RKD
Elevation of weather observation facility 56
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.75
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22166
NTSB Notification Source FAA NEROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 30 2007 12:18PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2762Q
NTSB Number NYC07CA163
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18257962
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Vance E. Bunker
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 209
Aircraft Owner City Matinicus
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04851
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RKD
Departure City Rockland
Departure State ME
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 35ME
Destination City Matincus Island
Destination State ME
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 7 2007 8:30PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 1700
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --