# Accident 20231006021009A: Cessna CE-172-R, Waco, TX, October 6, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 6, 2023, 16:39 local time
- Place: Waco, TX
- Airport: Tstc Waco
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: TSTS
- Location: 31.4291° N, 96.9826° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4291&lon=-96.9826&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2444H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2444H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172R (registry code 2072401, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA CE-172-R
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 464 total, 401 in this make and model, 124 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA025) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231006021009A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 6, 2023, AT 16:39 CDT IN VFR CONDITIONS,13+ MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST OF WACO TEXAS (CNW), THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE PERFORMING GROUND REFERENCE TRAINING MANEUVERS AT 1000 FEET. DURING THIS MANEUVERING, THE CREW DETECTED 4 TO 5 LARGE BIRDS AT 12 O’CLOCK FROM THEIR POSITION. THE VISIBILITY INSIDE THE TURN WAS POOR DUE TO THE HIGH – WING CONFIGURATION OF THE PLANE, AND THE CREW WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE DIRECTION THE BIRDS WERE TURNING UNTIL THEY ROLLED OUT WINGS LEVEL. THE CREW IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE BIRDS BY PERFORMING EVASIVE MANEUVERS BUT COULD NOT AVOID THE COLLISION WITH THE BIRDS. AS A RESULT, THE AIRPLANE WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT WING’S OUTBOARD LEADING EDGE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND IMMEDIATE CONTROLLABILITY ISSUES. THE CREW DECLARED AND EMERGENCY.  THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT UNLESS HE MAINTAINED FULL POWER AND AT LEAST 125 KNOTS IAS, WITH THE ALERIONS FULLY DEFLECTED OPPOSITE TO THE DAMAGED WING, UNTIL TOUCHDOWN OF THE AIRCRAFT AT (CNW) WACO’S AIRPORT. THE EMERGENCY LANDING WAS SUCCESSFUL WITH NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGES TO THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN24LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA025), Oct 6, 2023: Cessna 172R (N2444H), Riesel, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird.

## Other reports on N2444H (1)

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

- [Incident 20190331002269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190331002269I), Mar 31, 2019: Cessna 172R (N2444H), Saint Augustine, FL, No damage. Birdstrike during climbout from runway 31

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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