Cessna 172 N63541

Summary

On 20 April 2016 at about 17:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N63541, operated by 70 North LLC, was involved in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 April 2016 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Chugiak, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.3886, -149.5617

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N63541

Category

Airplane

Year built

1981

Engines

1

Operator

70 North LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Birchwood → Birchwood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC16FA019

4 people died.

The in-flight collision with one or more large birds (Bald Eagle), which resulted in a loss of airplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to conduct low-level aerial surveying and photography. A review of Federal Aviation Administration air traffic radar data revealed that the airplane departed the airport in a southerly direction before turning west and then conducted two 360° turns. The airplane then proceeded northeast of the airport for about 4 miles before turning toward the southwest, overflying the intended photography area and continuing past Beach Lake. The airplane then turned east for about 2 miles before the radar track terminated. The airplane was found in a densely wooded area, and a postcrash fire ensued, which consumed a majority of the fuselage. Examination of the wreckage revealed upward and aft crushing of the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer, and no scratching or gouging was found, consistent with an in-flight impact with a soft-bodied object. An examination of a complete feather found near the first pieces of debris and samples of organic material that contained several microscopic feather barbs and barbules taken from the left side of the airplane's fuselage and the tail section revealed that they were consistent with that of a Bald Eagle. Given this evidence, it is likely that the airplane impacted one or more eagles in flight and that the pilot subsequently lost airplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.