Event DCA14CA031

Factual narrative

On November 24, 2013, at approximately 2040 EST, a De Havilland DHC-8-102, N808EX, operated by Piedmont Airlines as flight 4314, encountered a flock of a birds during the descent into Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The airplane was located about 16 miles north of KPHL, and at about 4000 feet mean sea level (msl), when multiple birds impacted the fuselage and wing of the airplane . The flight crew notified air traffic control, and did not declare an emergency. None of the 40 passengers and crew onboard were injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight between Greater Binghamton Airport (KBGM), Binghamton, New York, and KPHL. The captain was the pilot flying, and stated that flight conditions were night VMC with no moon. The flight crew stated they were at 4,000 feet msl, at about 190 knots airspeed, and on the downwind leg for runway 26 when the bird strike occurred. The flight crew heard multiple thuds and saw some of the birds through the windshield. After the impacts, the flight crew checked instruments, disconnected autopilot, checked for changes in flight characteristics and did not note any changes. The first officer notified ATC of the bird strike and did not declare an emergency. The flight landed uneventfully at KPHL. Post flight maintenance inspection revealed substantial damage to the left front wing spar, left wing skin, and vertical stabilizer deice boot. On November 24, 2013, at approximately 2040 EST, a De Havilland DHC-8-102, N808EX, operated by Piedmont Airlines as flight 4314, encountered a flock of a birds during the descent into Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The airplane was located about 16 miles north of KPHL, and at about 4000 feet mean sea level (msl), when multiple birds impacted the fuselage and wing of the airplane .  The flight crew notified air traffic control, and did not declare an emergency.  None of the 40 passengers and crew onboard were injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.  The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight between Greater Binghamton Airport (KBGM), Binghamton, New York, and KPHL. The captain was the pilot flying, and stated that flight conditions were night VMC with no moon.  The flight crew stated they were at 4,000 feet msl, at about 190 knots airspeed, and on the downwind leg for runway 26 when the bird strike occurred.  The flight crew heard multiple thuds and saw some of the birds through the windshield.  After the impacts, the flight crew checked instruments, disconnected autopilot, checked for changes in flight characteristics and did not note any changes. The first officer notified ATC of the bird strike and did not declare an emergency.  The flight landed uneventfully at KPHL.  Post flight maintenance inspection revealed substantial damage to the left front wing spar, left wing skin, and vertical stabilizer deice boot.    Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on equipment - C
• — Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Wing structure-Leading edge devices-Damaged/degraded
• — Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Wing structure-Spar (on wing)-Damaged/degraded