# Accident 20190324001969A: Piper PA-23-250, Tampa, FL, March 24, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 24, 2019, 14:52 local time
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Airport: Tampa International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9756° N, 82.5333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9756&lon=-82.5333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N976AZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N976AZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23-250 (registry code 7102308, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (registry code 41651, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-c4b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 21,197 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA180) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190324001969A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 24, 2019 AT 1452 EDT A PIPER PA-23-250, N976AZ THAT IS REGISTERED TO MTN AVIATION LLC. STRUCK A BIRD AT 3000 FEET. AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TAXIED TO THE RAMP. UPON INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT MAJOR DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. A BIRD STRIKE REPORT  NUMBER 2019-324-170-7464 WAS SUBMITTED BY TPA AIRPORT AUTHORITY.

## 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 GAA19CA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA180), Mar 24, 2019: Piper PA23 (N976AZ), Tampa, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird during the approach, which resulted in damage to the vertical stabilizer.

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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