Sacramento International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sacramento, California 95837
Thursday, February 18, 2010 18:41 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was on approach to the airport when he saw five large birds. The pilot felt an impact to the right wing and the airplane rolled to the right. The pilot corrected the roll with opposite aileron and rudder input and the airplane landed safely on the runway. Postaccident examination showed substantial damage to the right wing spar. Bird remains recovered from the airplane were identified as tundra swan.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An in-flight collision with a bird while on final approach.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/18/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1841
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Sacramento
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95837
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 384143N
Event Location Longitude 1213526W
Event Location Airport Sacramento International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SMF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 27
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 653 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SMF
Elevation of weather observation facility 27
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.85
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26754
NTSB Notification Source FAA Com Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 1 2010 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N892FE
NTSB Number WPR10LA141
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 208B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 208B0222
Certified Max Gross Weight 8785
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Feb 4 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 8986
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name Federal Express Corporation
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2955 Republican
Aircraft Owner City Memphis
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38118-1547
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WEST AIR INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5005 E. Andersen Avenue
Operator City Fresno
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93727
Operator Code AWHA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number AWHA805C
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ACV
Departure City Arcata
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1718
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SMF
Destination City Sacramento
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 9 2011 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16R
Runway Length 8600
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --