The Navion pilot reported that, while on a 3-mile base leg to the airport in Patterson, Louisiana, he encountered a flock of large birds circling.
He aborted the base leg and made a rapid descent to avoid the birds, but the birds followed.
He continued the dive and observed power lines in the vicinity. He made an “evasive maneuver” to avoid the power lines, but the vertical stabilizer hit the power lines, shearing off the vertical stabilizer and rudder.
The pilot maintained control, climbed, declared “mayday,” and requested flight following to an airport without a crosswind for landing. He approached at a higher airspeed to reduce the left turning tendencies and, during the landing roll, the airplane veered left off the runway into an adjacent grass and mud field.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while making an evasive maneuver to avoid birds.
This January 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
52 years of flying slow and fast airplanes Cessna 150, TA-4J, F-4 Phantom and a bunch of time in a B -737. I have hit a lot of birds and have missed a lot more from going around and just being lucky that is was a miss. You never go under birds and buzzards are the worst cause they will just fold their wings and fall down. Most other birds will try to avoid you and most of the time they do miss you. The ground never moves and it will be to a full stop when you hit the ground. Always control the airplane and have total situation awareness. You hit a bird it might cause some damage or it may not have any damage except for the sound of impact.
52 years of flying Cessna 150, TA 4 Skyhawk,
F4 Phantom and a bunch of time in a 737. Have hit a lot of birds with many never seen until impact with high speeds you never see until very close or sound of impact. Have gone around a lot of birds but never go under a bird or a flock of them. Buzzards are the worst cause they just fold their wings and fall if you scare them most other birds will attempt to get out of your way. A bird can damage the airplane but they will try to move out of your path. The ground never moves and will always be there for your full stop if you hit it. The old saying of always fly the airplane and stay in control and if you have to hit something hit something that is small and you might still miss that moving object.
faa has a rule for this 91.34.765.453.14159
airplane up and to left bird down and left
for non towered airports ( all turns to left)
at towered they must follow atc instructions and are prohibited like at kmht which has a rule of no wildlife allowed
I’ve encountered a soaring buzzard and the bird quickly dove out of my flight path.
It does, however, cause for an instant pucker factor and a racing heart.
I too have found that most birds dive to evade an airplane, probably because, like us, they’re faster in a dive than a climb. Usually by the time I see the bird and react, it’s too late anyway. An exception I’ve seen is nesting eagles, and as a seaplane pilot I’m sometimes flying in their environment. They will sometimes see the plane as a threat to their nest and approach rather than evade. It’s good to know where the nests are and avoid those areas. Better for plane and for these majestic birds.
He saw them. Logic dictates turn away and wait for them to move, land from the other end if feasible, or go to a different airport….pretty simple stuff.
My CFII told me never maneuver to avoid a bird. They will always dive away faster then you can maneuver (when they see you).
My instructor basically told me the same thing, but he added that a foot or two could make the difference in a hit and not a hit but don’t stall the plane trying to miss the birds. I’ve never done it because the few times I’ve seen a bird I didn’t have time to react before it had passed by me.
I’ve had a couple of birdstrikes but I’ve been able to avoid even more by turning on my landing lights and/or pulling up just a little.
Pulse lights are a good investment if you’re in a region with many birds. Lights let birds get aware of you in time to escape.
Just a LITTLE back pressure on the yoke might give them a foot or two of extra space to save their lives and avoid damage to your aircraft – even if you’re in the landing phase. If in doubt there’s always the option of a go around.
Birds will dive to avoid a plane. A whole flock will do that and it’s just as mesmerizing to a pilot as it is to a falcon! Here’s proof:
https://youtu.be/Fu27nbiec4g
When I was first taking instruction to obtain my license my flight instructor told me to always go up to avoid birds, as they always dive away from the plane? This pilot’s experience seems to support that theory?
As a prior ’46 NAvion owner I have to mention their rugged construction. Built and first flown in 1945 by North American Aviation, these aircraft were designed for a fledgling general aviation community and also found military liaison use. Later years included more “civilized” amenities such as a door instead of sliding canopy and bigger engines. Currently you can find very original versions as well as modern versions with fully coupled 3-axis glass panels; yet the original airframe design still soldiers on over 75 years after first flight.