Probable cause
an inadvertant birdstrike on approach.
NTSB analysis
On December 5, 2012, at approximately 1800 eastern standard time, a Bombardier CRJ200 operated by Air Wisconsin as USAirways Express flight 3852, experienced a bird strike while descending through 7,000 feet on approach to the New York LaGuardia Airport, New York. The bird strike occured about 30 miles southwest of the airport, at an airspeed of 200 knots. The crew continued the approach and made a normal landing. Weather at the time of the event was night visual conditions. There were no injuries to the 3 crewmembers or 50 passengers.
Structural damage was found on skin panels, bulkheads, stringers, frames, nose landing gear support structure, ADG enclosure, leading edges, and piccolo ducts. The forward pressure bulkhead was dented, deformed, and punctured in several areas, affecting the structural strength of the bulkhead and require major repair or replacement, thereby qualifying as substantial damage.
The species of bird was identified as Snow Goose by the Smithsonian Institution bird hazard laboratory.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA13CA066 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 5, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- New York, New York
- Nearest airport
- Laguardia (KLGA)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dusk
Bombardier Inc CL-600-2B19
- N-number
- N411ZW
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 121 (airline)
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.