You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Monday 20 August 1990 |
| Time: | 17:25 |
| Type: |  Boeing 747-344 |
| Owner/operator: | South African Airways - SAA |
| Registration: | ZS-SAT |
| MSN: | 22970/577 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1983 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 336 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Incident |
| Location: | London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) |
| Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB/FAOR) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
At 1725 hrs, during a normal take-off from runway 27L and, shortly after V1, the aircraft was struck by 3 Canada geese which were flying across the mid-section of the runway from the south. Having seen the skein at the last moment, the commander, in an attempt to avoid them, elected to rotate the aircraft slightly earlier and rather more positively than normal and, in so doing scraped the tail section of the aircraft fuselage on the runway. The take-off was continued and the aircraft departed to dump fuel over the sea. Having reduced to an acceptable landing weight, the aircraft returned to Heathrow and landed without further event at 1833 hrs. The following day, when temporary repairs had been effected, the aircraft took off without passengers to return to its base at Jan Smutts Airport, South Africa. Heathrow Airport operates a bird deterrent and scaring unit throughout the 24 hour day and as is required by special circumstances. They are equipped with a Sherpa van fitted with a loud hailer, enabling the broadcast of recorded bird alarm-cries, and supplied with a Davis bird gun, firing star/cracker shells, and a shot gun. The members of the team are well versed in the migratory patterns and local settling areas of any birds which have been seen in the area and are hazardous to aircraft. To date, this scheme has been successful and, although remaining alert to possible improvements or new ideas, there are no immediate plans to change it.
Following report of the birdstrike, whilst the aircraft was dumping fuel the team discovered 3 Canada
geese on Block 81 of the runway and a 36m scrape, including a broken centreline light fitting, some
2325m from the runway threshold. It is stated that on that day the team were very busy with flights of seagulls and, although the normal flight patterns of Canada geese are well known to them, these geese not only arrived from an unusual direction but crossed the centre section of the runway rather than the distant extended runway centerlines where they usually cross. Consequently, they were not sighted before becoming a hazard to safety.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f86440f0b61346000731/Boeing_747_-300__ZS-SAT_10-90.pdf
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/60847 (Photo)
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 4 December 1992 | ZS-SAT | South African Airways - SAA | 0 | London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) | |
min |
| Collision with Ground support equipment | ||||||
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Feb-2025 07:15 | Justanormalperson | Added |
| 21-Apr-2025 10:00 | Justanormalperson | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Accident report, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation