Pilot Debrief

EMBRAER EMB-145XR near Salt Lake City, UT — 2010-08-10

Final reportWPR10LA395
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Date
2010-08-10
Location
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Airport
KSLC
Aircraft
EMBRAER EMB-145XR
Registration
N14105
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern during a visual approach.

NTSB narrative

While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for the destination airport, the flying pilot transferred his focus from the instrument panel to outside the airplane. Immediately thereafter, he noticed a flock/formation of large birds directly ahead. With the airplane in such close proximity of the birds, he had no time to take evasive action. One of the birds impacted the airplane just aft of the nose cone. The bird, which was later tentatively identified as a White Pelican, penetrated the airplane's skin and entered the forward avionics bay. Neither flightcrew member had seen the birds in time for evasive action to be taken.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Environmental
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have been more vigilant for bird activity during approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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