# Accident 20211203019219A: Cessna 172S, Warenton, VA, December 3, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 3, 2021, 13:25 local time
- Place: Warenton, VA
- Airport: Warrenton-Fauquier Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: VZ7S
- Location: 38.5867° N, 77.7110° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5867&lon=-77.7110&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2100S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2100S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 405 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211203019219A

## Narrative

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

WHILE CONDUCTING FLIGHT TRAINING OPERATIONS IN THE PATTERN AT KHWY, CESSNA 172S, N2100S, STRUCK A BIRD WHILE IN FLIGHT. STUDENT PILOT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION FROM CFI. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED FROM RUNWAY 33 AND WAS POSITIONED IN A CLIMBING LEFT TURN FROM LEFT CROSSWIND TO LEFT DOWNWIND WHEN CREW NOTICED 4 TO 5 LARGE BIRDS CIRCLING AND MOVING LEFT TO RIGHT. CREW ESTIMATED THAT THEIR CONTINUED LEFT TURN AND THE BIRDS' DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT WOULD AVOID A CONFLICT OR COLLISION. ONE OF THE BIRDS, UNSEEN BY THE CREW, IMPACTED THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING A FEW FEET INWARD FROM THE WING TIP. THE COLLISION WAS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND THE CFI, CONCERNED WITH POTENTIAL AIRCRAFT CONTROL PROBLEMS, ASSUMED CONTROL OF FLIGHT CONTROLS.

AN AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAY PREVENTED AN IMMEDIATE LANDING TO RUNWAY 15 AND THE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS AND HANDLING APPEARED TO BE NORMAL SO CREW ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO FLY A NORMAL PATTERN TO A NORMAL LANDING. THE LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT OR ANY UNUSUAL HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS.

THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE CREW NOR OTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE IN ADDITION TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BIRD STRIKE.

AIRPLANE WAS GROUNDED UPON TAXI TO THE FLIGHT SCHOOL RAMP AND APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL WERE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED.

## 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 ERA22LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA084), Dec 3, 2021: Cessna 172S (N2100S), Midland, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Collision with a bird in flight, which resulted in damage to the right-wing leading-edge spar.

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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