BATH, NC, USA
N7025S
CESSNA 150H
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT, SPOTTING FOR FOREST FIRE HAZARDS. WHILE AT 1,000 FEET MSL, 95 KNOTS IAS, A LARGE GOOSE COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, AND ENTERED THE COCKPIT, STRIKING THE PILOT ON THE HEAD. HE OBSERVED A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLOOD ON HIMSELF, AND WAS FEARFUL THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN BLEEDING. HE SET UP FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. DUE TO VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS, HE DID NOT OBSERVE A SET OF POWER LINES IN TIME TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THEM. AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE POWER LINES, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER ON THE SOFT TERRAIN.
On April 16, 1995, at 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N7025S, collided with a bird during cruise flight near Bath, North Carolina. The aircraft subsequently collided with power lines and nosed over during an emergency landing attempt. The commercial pilot had minor injuries, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by Dillon's Aviation, of Greenville, North Carolina. The flight originated in Greenville at 1000. The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight, at 1,000 feet mean sea level, spotting for forest fire hazards. The indicated airspeed was about 95 knots. While in straight and level flight, the windshield "seemed to explode." An object struck him on the right side of his head, knocking his headset off. His shirt and pants were soaked in blood, and there was blood on the right side of his head. After observing feathers in the cockpit, he realized that the aircraft had struck a bird. He was afraid that some of the blood may be his own, so he prepared for an emergency landing in an open field. Full engine power was required to maintain level flight. Forward visibility was restricted due to the wind blast and bird remains, so he took occasional glances ahead while mainly looking out the side windows. On short final, the aircraft collided with power lines immediately after he observed them. The aircraft was landed in the soft dirt, and nosed over, resulting in structural damage. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the remains of a large goose were found in the cockpit. Approximately 70 percent of the windshield broke out of the frame.
A BIRD, WHICH COLLIDED WITH AND FRACTURED THE AIRCRAFT WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN AN EMERGENCY LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN AT THE EMERGENCY LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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