Takeoff Accident Appears to be "Avian-Induced"

A recent spate of "B1RD" collisions has added another statistic to the list. A Lear 24, enroute to Nebraska from Belleville, IL, went down shortly after takeoff from the St. Louis Downtown Airport. After encountering the a flock of birds, the aircraft lost power in the right engine and was unable to maintain flight. It went down in a field shortly thereafter, about four miles southeast of the airport. Listed on board were Pilots Ivan Storz of Herculaneum, MO and 34-year-old Michael Walden of Crystal City, MO. The passengers were Eric Holland of Webster Groves, MO and Gerald Schneller of St. Louis, MO. Storz was the only one that required hospitalization and was last listed in Fair Condition.

** Report created 11/13/2003 Record 5 **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 77JL Make/Model: LJ24 Description: GATES LEAR JET
 Date: 11/12/2003 Time: 1240
 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Minor Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
 City: BELLEVILLE State: IL Country: US

DESCRIPTION
MULTI ARROW INC, N77JL, A LEAR JET 24D AIRCRAFT, CRASHED ON DEPARTURE UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD, ONE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, BELLEVILLE, IL

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
 # Crew: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk:
 # Pass: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: METAR VRB05KT 10SM CLR 18/16 A985
OTHER DATA
 Activity: Business Phase: Take-off Operation: Air Taxi (On Demand)
 Departed: CAHOKIA, IL Dep Date: 11/12/2003 Dep. Time: 1240
 Destination: NORTH PLATTE, NE Flt Plan: IFR Wx Briefing: U
 Last Radio Cont: ON THE GROUND AT CPS Last Clearance: ENTER CONTROL AIRSPACE HDG 210
 FAA FSDO: SPRINGFIELD, IL (GL19) Entry date: 11/13/2003

FMI: www.faa.gov