SOME SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE STRIKES TO CIVIL AIRCRAFT

**IN THE UNITED STATES, 2002**

**Sandra Wright, Manager, FAA Wildlife Strike Database**

**U.S. Department of Agriculture**

**National Wildlife Research Center**

**6100 Columbus Ave.**

**Sandusky, OH 44870 USA**

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through an interagency agreement
with the Federal Aviation Administration, compiles a database of all
reported wildlife strikes to U.S civil aircraft and to foreign carriers
experiencing strikes in the USA. We have compiled over 46,000 strike
reports from 1,400 airports, 1990-2002 (about 6,000 strikes in 2002),
but estimate that this represents only about 20% of the strikes that
have occurred. The following examples from the database are presented to
show the serious impacts that strikes by birds or other wildlife can
have on aircraft. These examples, from throughout the USA, demonstrate
the widespread and diverse nature of the problem. The examples are not
intended to highlight or criticize individual airports because strikes
have occurred on almost every airport in the USA. Many of the strike
examples reported here occurred off airport property during approach or
departure. For more information on wildlife strikes or to report a
strike, visit [*www.birdstrike.org*](http://www.birdstrike.org/). or
[http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov](http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/).

**Date: 25 January 2002**

Aircraft: Learjet 60

Airport: Naples Municipal Airport (FL)

Phase of Flight: Landing roll

Effect on Flight: None

Damage: Engine

Wildlife Species: Muscovy duck

Comments from Report: Duck was ingested into #1 engine. Bird remains
were evident throughout the core and bypass sections of engine. Time out
of service 5 days and cost for repairs \$443,000.

**Date: 26 January 2002**

Aircraft: B-757

Airport: Denver Intl. (CO)

Phase of Flight: Take off

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Engine

Wildlife Species: Great Horned Owl

Comments from Report: Aircraft ingested a great horned owl which caused
engine vibration. Aircraft returned to land at DEN. Many fan blades were
damaged. Engine was washed before remains were removed for ID.
Maintenance thought there was fur and feathers in the engine. Cost was
\$500,000 and time out of service was 3 days. Bird ID by Smithsonian.

**Date: 21 February 2002**

Aircraft: Beechcraft 1900

Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl. (AZ)

Phase of Flight: Climb (400'AGL)

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Wing, fuel tank

Wildlife Species: Northern pintail

Comments from Report: Bird penetrated right wing and fuel was rapidly
leaking out. Emergency landing was made. Passengers safely deplaned.
Bird ID by Smithsonian.

**Date: 24 February 2002**

Aircraft: Fk-100

Airport: Dallas-Fort Worth (TX)

Phase of Flight: Climb (6000'AGL)

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Engine, nose, wing

Wildlife Species: Greater white-fronted goose

Comments from Report: Aircraft struck a flock of geese and ingested one
after takeoff. Engine vibration caused crew to reduce power to idle Nose
was damaged. Several blades were deformed. Engine was replaced. Bird was
identified by the Smithsonian. Cost of repairs and lost revenue totaled
\$654,000. Aircraft was out of service for 8 days.

**Date: 09 March 2002**

Aircraft: Canadair RJ 200

Airport: Dulles Intl. (DC)

Phase of Flight: Take off

Effect on Flight: Aborted take off

Damage: Engine, windshield, fuselage

Wildlife Species: Wild turkeys

Comments from Report: Aircraft struck wild turkeys. One shattered the
windshield spraying the cockpit with glass fragments and remains.
Another hit the fuselage and was ingested. There was a 14 inch 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.

**Date: 27 March 2002**

Aircraft: MD-83

Airport: Lambert-St. Louis Intl. (MO)

Phase of Flight: Climb (2500')

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Engine, windshield

Wildlife Species: Mallards

Comments from Report: While climbing out at 2500' AGL, the aircraft hit
at least 2 ducks. One hit the captain's windshield covering the entire
area with remains. The other hit the right wing leading edge and left a
hole the size of a "melon". Flight returned to St. Louis. Time out of
service 19 hours, estimated cost of repairs was \$60,000. Bird ID by
Smithsonian. Birds were first reported as geese.

**Date: 11 April 2002**

Aircraft: Cessna 208

Airport: Baltimore-Washington Intl. (MD)

Phase of Flight: Approach (2,500')

Effect on Flight: Other

Damage: Windshield

Wildlife Species: Horned grebe

Comments from Report: Bird came through the windshield, injuring the
pilot. Bird ID by Smithsonian. Aircraft was out of service for 3 days
and cost of repairs was \$18,000.

**Date: 08 May 2002**

Aircraft: Beechjet 400

Airport: Burke Lakefront (OH)

Phase of Flight: Take off

Effect on Flight: Aborted take off

Damage: Engines

Wildlife Species: Gulls (ring-billed and herring)

Comments from Report: Pilot revved engines to move gulls from runway.
The gulls lifted off, then as the aircraft took off, the gulls returned
to the runway and were struck. Both engines ingested gulls and were
damaged. One had an uncontained failure. The aircraft was towed back to
the hanger. 14 carcasses were recovered. Estimated cost was \$600,000.

**Date: 06 June 2002**

Aircraft: Cessna 172

Airport: Orlando-Sanford Intl. (FL)

Phase of Flight: Descent (1100')

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Windshield

Wildlife Species: Turkey vulture

Comments from Report: Vulture smashed through the windshield and the
right side door blew open. The instructor's headset flew out the open
door. Bird ended up in baggage compartment. Student pilot was cut on
face and arms, instructor cut on face and arm. Time out of service was
48 hours and cost to repairs was \$1000. Loss of revenue unknown at time
of report.

**Date: 08 June 2002**

Aircraft: Cessna Citation

Airport: John F Kennedy Memorial ()

Phase of Flight: Landing roll

Effect on Flight: Avoidance maneuver

Damage: Wing, fuselage, nose

Wildlife Species: White-tailed deer

Comments from Report: Pilot was warned of deer on airfield. Deer was
chased away but as the aircraft landed, a second deer ran onto the
active runway. The pilot swerved to avoid the deer but it hit just below
the pilot's window, scraped against the static ports, hit the left wing
root fairing. The aircraft was ferried to a maintenance base for
repairs. Time out of service was 6 weeks and cost totaled at least
\$125,000.

**Date: 10 July 2002**

Aircraft: B-737

Airport: Sarasota/Bradenton Intl. (FL)

Phase of Flight: Climb

Effect on Flight: Diverted, precautionary landing

Damage: Engine, tail and nose cowl

Wildlife Species: Unknown birds

Comments from Report: Strike occurred at rotation. There was a golf
ball-sized hole in some of the blades. Four pairs of blades were
replaced. The nose cowl was punctured in two places. Aircraft made an
overweight landing. Horizontal stabilizer was dented. Aircraft was out
of service for more than 24 hours.

**Date: 26 July 2002**

Aircraft: B-757

Airport: San Francisco Intl. (CA)

Phase of Flight: Climb

Effect on Flight: Engine reacted

Damage: Engines and radome

Wildlife Species: Unknown birds

Comments from Report: The aircraft hit 40-50 large birds. Engines
reacted but continued running with no abnormal indications. Upon landing
found both engines had fan blade and acoustic damage. Several sets of
fan blades were replaced.

**Date: 05 August 2002**

Aircraft: B-757

Airport: Portland Intl. (OR)

Phase of Flight: Take off run

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Engine

Wildlife Species: Red-tailed hawk

Comments from Report: Normal take-off. At 300 feet, vibration and
flutter started in right engine. As climb continued, vibration got
worse, power was reduced on the engine and vibration stopped at idle.
Declared precautionary emergency and returned to airport. Made single
engine landing without incident. Upon inspection, found blade damage due
to bird ingestion. Replaced 6 fan blade pairs. Flight was delayed 18
hours.

**Date: 07 August 2002**

Aircraft: B-757

Airport: San Francisco Intl. (CA)

Phase of Flight: Climb (100' AGL)

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Engine

Wildlife Species: Pigeons

Comments from Report: Shortly after rotation, a flock of 40-45 pigeons
flew into the aircraft. Multiple bird strikes, including at least two
ingested into left engine. Engine surged and vibrated briefly. Declared
emergency and returned to airport with both engines running. Taxied to
gate after fire chief cleared aircraft. Found several fan blades
damaged.

**Date: 12 September 2002**

Aircraft: Hawker Mark 20

Airport: Orlando Executive (FL)

Phase of Flight: Climb (700' AGL)

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Windshield, canopy

Wildlife Species: Egrets

Comments from Report: Hit 2 egrets with bubble canopy, slightly at of
pilot's head. Canopy disintegrated, departed aircraft along with most of
the frame rails and emergency escape panel. Canopy debris struck and
damaged both sides of the horizontal stabilizer and damaged the vertical
fin. Debris landed in a residential area. Time out of service 8 weeks
and cost of repairs estimated at \$20,000 to 30,000 with estimated other
cost at \$80,000.

**Date: 13 September 2002**

Aircraft: BA - 41

Airport: Dayton Intl. (OH)

Phase of Flight: Climb (50' AGL)

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Engine and prop

Wildlife Species: European starlings

Comments from Report: Aircraft returned after ingesting 24-30 starlings.
One turbine blade was bent beyond limits. The engine was removed and
replaced. Time out of service was 30 hours and estimated cost of repairs
along with other costs was \$172,000.

**Date: 23 September 2002**

Aircraft: MD-83

Airport: San Diego Intl. (CA)

Phase of Flight: Climb (14,000' AGL)

Effect on Flight: Precautionary landing

Damage: Radome, wing

Wildlife Species: Northern pintail

Comments from Report: Hit 2-10 ducks. Plane was rerouted to Los Angeles
and made a precautionary landing. Radome and bulkhead were penetrated.
Remains found in landing gear compartment. Leading edge of wing was also
penetrated. Remains identified by Smithsonian.

**Date: 6 October 2002**

Aircraft: B-737

Airport: Newark Intl. (NJ)

Phase of Flight: Approach (10' AGL)

Effect on Flight: None

Damage: Engine

Wildlife Species: Canada geese

Comments from Report: Hit at least 8 geese on landing flare. Two birds
were found in the engine (1 in core). Damaged 9 blades and nose cowl.
Engine was removed. Cost for repairs was \$1.4 million.

**Date: 13 October 2002**

Aircraft: B-737-300

Airport: Piedmont Triad Intl. (NC)

Phase of Flight: Approach (10' AGL)

Effect on Flight: None

Damage: Engines 1 and 2, wing

Wildlife Species: Canada geese

Comments from Report: Hit flock of Canada geese on landing flare. Geese
were ingested in both engines. No immediate effect. There was an odor in
the cabin. Both nose cowls were replaced as well as a full set of fan
blades on the left engine and 3 pairs of fan blades on the right engine.

**Date: 14 October 2002**

Aircraft: Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8

Airport: Albany Intl. (NY)

Phase of Flight: Approach (3,000' AGL)

Effect on Flight: Disconnected auto pilot to avoid flock

Damage: Tail, wing, engine

Wildlife Species: Canada geese

Comments from Report: Pilot saw a large flock of birds and disconnected
autopilot to try to avoid them but several hit with a big thud. Aircraft
handled normally and landed without incident. At the gate, found a bird
protruding from the wing and fuel leaking out running down the wing.
Another hole was found in the horizontal stabilizer. Engine was starting
to smoke where the fuel was running by it. Called fire and rescue.

**Date: 19 October 2002**

Aircraft: B-767

Airport: Boston Logan (MA)

Phase of Flight: Climb (200' AGL)

Effect on Flight: Engine shut down, precautionary landing

Damage: Engine, landing lights

Wildlife Species: Double-crested cormorants

Comments from Report: Encountered a flock of over 20 birds. At least one
was ingested. There were immediate indications of engine surging on the
right side, compression stall and smoke came from engine. In-flight
engine shutdown. Nose cowl dented and punctured. Heavy fan blade damage
with abnormal vibration. Overweight landing with one engine was made
without incident. 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 the 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.

**Date: 12 November 2002**

Aircraft: Helicopter

Airport: near Tequesta FL

Phase of Flight: En route

Effect on Flight: Emergency landing

Damage: Unknown

Wildlife Species: Vulture

Comments from Report: An emergency medical helicopter ran into a group
of vultures. One of the medical technicians was struck by one of the
birds and received minor injuries. The helicopter was forced to make an
emergency landing due to damage. This was a back-up aircraft so the
county's emergency service was without any helicopters for about a day.
(This strike was not reported, so information is missing.)

**Date: 3 December 2002**

Aircraft: Learjet 36

Airport: Astoria Regional (OR)

Phase of Flight: Take-off run

Effect on Flight: Aborted take-off & ran off runway

Damage: Aircraft destroyed

Wildlife Species: Elk

Comments from Report: Learjet was destroyed after colliding with
multiple elk and subsequent runway overrun. Impact forces and post crash
fire destroyed the airplane. Crew believes a piece of the animal was
ingested into the left engine causing it to catch fire. No one was
injured.