Cherry Capital Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Traverse City, Michigan 49686
Wednesday, May 28, 2014 15:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane struck a common loon during the descent to land, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that the airplane was about 10 miles from the airport and descending through about 3,500 to 3,000 feet mean sea level when the bird strike occurred.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An in-flight collision with a bird during the descent to land, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/2014
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Traverse City
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49686
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 444430N
Event Location Longitude 0853454W
Event Location Airport CHERRY CAPITAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TVC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles 5216
Degrees magnetic from airport 93
Airport Elevation 624
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1853 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID TVC
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 24000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KTVC 281853Z 03008KT 10SM BKN240 17/08 A3007
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 45
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33334
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 7 2014 11:00AM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N299SK
NTSB Number CEN14LA262
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name EMBRAER
Aircraft Model EMB 135KL
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number 145532
Certified Max Gross Weight 46517
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 3
Cabin Crew Seats 1
Passenger Seats 44
Total number of seats on the aircraft 48
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection May 19 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 31099
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WELLS FARGO BANK NORTHWEST NA TRUSTEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address MAC U1240-026260 CHARLES LINDBERGH DR
Aircraft Owner City SALT LAKE CITY
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 841162812
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CHAUTAUQUA AIRLINES INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Indianapolis
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 46268
Operator Code CHQA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ORD
Departure City CHICAGO
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1412
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TVC
Destination City Traverse City
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 7 2014 10:59AM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 6901
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --