# Incident 20230826012139I: Piper PA-44-180, West Lafayette, IN, August 26, 2023

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 2023, 13:43 local time
- Place: West Lafayette, IN
- Airport: Lafayette
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.4123° N, 86.9362° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4123&lon=-86.9362&mi=10
- Aircraft: N767PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N767PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-44-180 (registry code 7104402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA384](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA384) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230826012139I

## Narrative

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

A PIPER PA-44-180 TWIN ENGINE LAND, FIXED WING AIRCRAFT, DEPARTED RWY 5 AT 13:40 LOCAL TIME AND REPORTED A BIRDSTRIKE AT 13:43 LOCAL TIME, RETURNING TO LAF WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.  ONCE PARKED AT THE RAMP, THE PILOT INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED A “CRACKED TAIL”.

THE BIRD WAS LATER FOUND AND REPORTED TO BE A TURKEY VULTURE.

INSPECTOR PERFORMED INVESTIGATION ON-SITE, AND DETERMINED THIS TO BE AN INCIDENT DUE TO MINOR DENTING DAMAGE THAT APPEARS LOCALIZED TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER LEADING EDGE. INSPECTOR INSPECTED ENTIRE AIRCRAFT EXTERIOR, INCLUDING ENGINE COWLINGS AND PROPELLERS, FOR HIDDEN DAMAGE OR DAMAGE TO ADDITIONAL AREAS, AND NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE COULD BE FOUND.

NOTE: NTSB HAS CLASSIFIED THIS AS AN ACCIDENT PER THEIR CURRENT GUIDANCE.  THE ASSOCIATED NUMBER IS: CEN23LA384

## 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 CEN23LA384](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA384), Aug 26, 2023: Piper PA-44-180 (N767PA), West Lafayette, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird during initial climb.

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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