- Date
- 2007-10-12, about 13:00 local, 19:00 UTC
- Location
- Denver, CO, USA
- Airport
- Denver International (DEN) runway 25
- Aircraft
- Bombardier, Inc. CL-600-2C10
- Flight
- Scheduled Domestic Passenger, DEN → SLC
- Injuries
- None. 74 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Investigation
- Completed · DirectorApprovedBriefFinal report
Probable Cause
the in-flight collision with geese shortly after takeoff.
Analysis
The airplane was about 1,500 feet above the ground when it flew through a flock of about 30 geese. The crew heard 3 to 4 thuds, and then the right engine immediately began running rough. The captain declared an emergency and returned to the airport. An examination of the airplane showed damage to the right engine fan and dents along both leading edge wing slats. Approximately 1 hour before the accident, the airport's Automatic Terminal Information Service reported a "bird advisory."
Factual Information
On October 12, 2007, approximately 1300 mountain daylight time, a Bombardier CL-600-2C10, N368CA, registered to and operated by Skywest Airlines as Flight 4021, and piloted by an airline transport-certificated pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a flock of birds shortly after taking off from Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The scheduled domestic passenger flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed and activated. The captain, first officer, 2 flight attendants, and 70 passengers on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Salt Lake City (SLC) International Airport, Utah. The captain reported they were about 1,500 feet above the ground when they saw a large flock of about 30 geese coming towards them. She said they heard 3 to 4 thuds, and then the right engine immediately began running rough. The VIB gauge was fluctuating rapidly from one extreme to the other. The captain declared an emergency and returned to DEN, landing uneventfully. An examination of the airplane showed damage to the right engine fan and dents along both wing leading edge slats. The left slat had to be replaced. The DEN 1155 ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) gave a "bird advisory."
