# Accident 20231129018039A: Cessna 172N, Watsonville, CA, November 29, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 29, 2023, 12:00 local time
- Place: Watsonville, CA
- Airport: Watsonville Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9357° N, 121.7896° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9357&lon=-121.7896&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6212F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6212F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 680 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231129018039A

## Narrative

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

THE STUDENT PILOT AND CFI TOOK OFF FROM WATSONVILLE, CA AIRPORT ON 11/29/2023 AROUND 1200 UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. DURING CLIMB OUT, AT ABOUT 800 FEET MSL, THE CREW SAW A DARK OBJECT OUT OF THE CORNER OF THEIR EYE LAST MINUTE BEFORE THEY HAD A CHANCE TO MANUEVER AWAY FROM IT. THEN THEY FELT AND HEARD THE OBJECT STRIKE THE AIRCRAFT. THEY WERE ABLE TO VISUALLY SEE THE BIRD STUCK IN THE LEFT LEADING EDGE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. PILOT THEN RADIO THE AIRPORT OF THE INCIDENT AND THEIR INTENTIONS TO LAND. PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT ISSUE.

## 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 WPR24LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA049), Nov 29, 2023: Cessna 172N (N6212F), Watsonville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while in the 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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