# Incident 20131014020799I: Cessna 172P, Christmas, FL, October 14, 2013

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 14, 2013, 16:30 local time
- Place: Christmas, FL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: V00S
- Location: 28.5304° N, 81.0196° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5304&lon=-81.0196&mi=10
- Aircraft: N65704, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,036 total, 249 in this make and model, 194 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14CA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA001) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131014020799I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT ON 10/14/2013, THE CREW OF TWO DEPARTED MERRITT ISLAND AIRPORT HEADING BACK TO SANFORD AT APPROXIMATELY 2500 FEET MSL, WITH AN INTENDED ROUTE FROM KCOI TO KSFB VIA LAKE POINSETT, NORTHWEST TO CHRISTMAS AND INTO SANFORD. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE MOMENTARILY OBSERVING OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, WITH THE STUDENT AT THE CONTROLS LOOKED FORWARD AND SAW TWO LARGE BIRDS DIRECTLY AHEAD, ONE SLIGHTLY ABOVE AND THE OTHER BELOW WITH LITTLE OR NO TIME TO REACT, THE INSTRUCTOR TAKING CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE BIRDS HOWEVER, ONE STRUCK THE LEFT WING ON THE LEADING EDGE INBOARD OF THE TIP. HE ALSO STATED AFTER IMPACT PERFORMED A SERIES OF NORMAL FLIGHT MANEUVERS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY WHETHER THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE COMPROMISED THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. WITH THIS DETERMINED THE CONTROLS WERE UNAFFECTED WITH NO DETERIORATION OF FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS AND PROCEEDED WITH THE INTENDED FLIGHT TO SANFORD, FL WHERE THEY LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ON 10/25/2013 THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED WITH THESE FINDINGS. EARLIER REPORTS INDICATED IT BEING AN ACCIDENT. DURING THE INSPECTION FOUND NO MAIN SPAR DAMAGE AND THIS, CONTRARY TO THE PICTURES AND INITIAL EVALUATION. ON INSPECTION FOUND A SMALL DEFORMATION ON THE END OF THE SPAR CAP, A CREASE WAS IDENTIFIED BUT, NOT CONSIDERED STRUCTURAL. THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT STATED ALTHOUGH THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL DETAILS IT, AS PART OF THE SPAR IS NOT CONSIDERED AN INTEGRAL PART. THEREFORE IT IS THIS INSPECTOR?S OPINION; THE VISIBLE DAMAGE IDENTIFIES THIS AS AN INCIDENT AND NOT AN ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA14CA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA001), Oct 14, 2013: Cessna 172P (N65704), Christmas, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inflight collision with a bird during cruise flight.

## Other reports on N65704 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20190716011899I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190716011899I), Jul 16, 2019: Cessna 172P (N65704), Jacksonville, FL, Minor damage. On July 16, 2019 at approximately 12:56 local, while practicing landings on rwy 32, during the rollout a wind gust lifted RH wing causing solo student ^cert.…
- [Incident 19970216009549I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970216009549I), Feb 16, 1997: Cessna 172P (N65704), Sanford, FL, Minor damage. Narrative: on February 16,1997,at 1410 EST, a Cessna 172, N65704, owned by the comair aviation academy and piloted by Mr. Erik anderson, went off the taxiway…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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