Skip to content

NYC04LA212

2004-09-09 · Nashua, New Hampshire, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ASH

Current FAA registration · N8463S

Make / Model
CESSNA 182H
Year of manufacture
1965 · 39 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19650828
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AB98F5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

An in flight collision with birds while landing. A factor was the night conditions.

Factual narrative

On September 9, 2004, at 1937 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182H, N8463S, was substantially damaged while landing at Boire Field (ASH), Nashua, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that after completing a local "sunset" flight, he was cleared to land on runway 32 at ASH. During the landing flare, about 500 feet beyond the approach end of the runway, the airplane struck eight geese. The pilot was able to complete the landing; however, both wings sustained substantial damage. The reported weather at ASH, at 1950, was: wind from 190 degrees at 10 knots; visibility 7 miles; broken ceiling at 2,400 feet; overcast ceiling at 3,000 feet; temperature 78 degrees F.; dew point 73 degrees F.; altimeter 29.83 inches Hg. Review of U.S. Naval Observatory data revealed that the sunset occurred at 1906, and the end of civil twilight was 1934. The pilot completing a local sunset flight, and was returning to the airport at night. While the airplane was in the landing flare, it struck eight geese. The pilot was able to complete the landing; however, both wings sustained substantial damage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2004_NYC04LA212.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.