Low-Altitude Maneuvering · NTSB ERA21LA053
BEECH V35 — Deltaville, VA
| Date | November 24, 2020 |
| Location | Deltaville, VA |
| Aircraft | BEECH V35 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Maneuvering Birdstrike |
| Pilot age | 71 |
| Pilot total time | 1,000 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on operation
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
What happened
The pilot departed on a personal local flight to test the autopilot system. Two fishermen reported seeing the airplane fly through a flock of seagulls, followed by two birds falling to the water. A third witness stated that he heard a loud noise, then saw the airplane make a left turn followed by two spirals before it impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies of the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. No avian remains were discovered during the postaccident examination; however, it is likely that any remains that may have been present would have been consumed by the significant post-impact fire. Based on the witness statements, it is likely that the airplane collided with birds inflight, after which the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent into terrain.