Amateur-built DHC3 accident near Homer, Alaska, June 19, 2016
On June 19, 2016 at about 11:25 pm local time, a 1956 amateur-built DHC3, registered N104BM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Homer, Alaska. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with a bald eagle, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2016 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Homer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC3 T, built 1956
- Registration
- N104BM · registry record · serial 118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that the airplane was flying straight and level at an altitude about 2,500 ft when the flight crew saw what they believed to be a bald eagle immediately before hearing and feeling an impact to the left wing. After the impact, they noted that the leading edge of the wing was damaged and deformed. Although the airplane continued to perform normally, the crew elected to return to their base and land. The first landing attempt was aborted due to an uncontrollable aileron roll to the left when the airspeed dropped below 75 mph. During the subsequent landing, the flight crew maintained the airspeed above 75 mph until just above the landing surface. The landing was accomplished without any further control issues. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing. Portions of the bird remains were retrieved from inside the left wing and sent to the Smithsonian Institution Feather Identification Laboratory in Washington, D.C. The remains were positively identified as bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). The damage due to bird's impact with the left wing negatively affected the airplane's aerodynamic performance while operating at a slow airspeed, which necessitated the high speed landing. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Birdstrike during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Flight control sys malf/fail during landing
- Miscellaneous/other during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Flight surfaces (wing) › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 17, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,695 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 10,145 as pilot in command; 1,020 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 9, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,395.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 8,367 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE-331-10 (turboprop); 9,146 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5BL Homer AK
- Destination: 5BL Homer AK
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PAHO, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.