What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The airman departed M54 and during the climb just prior to leveling off for cruise, the airman was struck by a bird. The bird was above them and dove down to them once they were passing under it. The bird struck the windscreen and could not be recovered. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the windshield only. The damage affected more than 25% of the aircraft's windscreen.
As the FAA filed it
THE AIRMAN DEPARTED M54 AND DURING THE CLIMB JUST PRIOR TO LEVELING OFF FOR CRUISE, THE AIRMAN WAS STRUCK BY A BIRD. THE BIRD WAS ABOVE THEM AND DOVE DOWN TO THEM ONCE THEY WERE PASSING UNDER IT. THE BIRD STRUCK THE WINDSCREEN AND COULD NOT BE RECOVERED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD ONLY. THE DAMAGE AFFECTED MORE THAN 25% OF THE AIRCRAFT'S WINDSCREEN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.