Curtiss Wright C-46R accident near Kenai, Alaska, July 11, 2024
On July 11, 2024 at about 5:46 pm local time, a 1942 Curtiss Wright C-46R, registered N7848B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Kenai, Alaska (Kenai Muni airport). It was a business flight under large-aircraft private carriage rules (Part 125). 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 birds during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2024 · about 5:46 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · Kenai Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Curtiss Wright C-46R, built 1942 · all C-46Rs on the register
- Registration
- N7848B · registry record · serial 273
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · large-aircraft private carriage rules (Part 125)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff, as the airplane passed through 150 ft above ground level (agl) several birds impacted the leading edge of the left wing. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure. The pilot continued the takeoff and entered a left hand traffic pattern and eventually landed back at the airport. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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 takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 30,000 hours in all; 12,000 in this make and model; 330 in the last 90 days; 121 in the last 30 days; 30,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 2, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,047 hours in all; 803 in this make and model; 260 in the last 90 days; 108 in the last 30 days; 987 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 29, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 50,000 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney R2800-CA18 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whiteny R2800-CA18 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Everts Air Fuel INC
The flight
- Destination: PABG Beluga AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20R, 7,855 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 11.5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 am from PAEN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 8, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7848B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7848B on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Curtiss Wright C-46 8 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Curtiss Wright 229 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R2800-CA18 173 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Pratt & Whiteny R2800-CA18 173 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Kenai Municipal · nearest airport
- Beluga Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 823 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,143 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N7848B 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC24LA066.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.