# Accident 20240522006439A: Piper PA-28-161, Vero Beach, FL, May 22, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 22, 2024, 10:30 local time
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Airport: Vero Beach Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: P39S
- Location: 27.6556° N, 80.4180° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4180&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6232H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6232H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 950 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA249) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240522006439A

## Narrative

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

THEY WERE FLYING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON RUNWAY 12R AT VERO BEACH REGIONAL AIRPORT. ON THE FINAL LAP IN THE PATTERN FOR THE DAY, WHILE TURNING FROM THE DOWNWIND TO BASE, A BIRD FLEW DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF OUR PROPELLER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID, WE LOWERED THE NOSE AND TURNED TO THE RIGHT. WHILE TURNING TO AVOID, THE BIRD STUCK THE LEFT WING, DAMAGING THE LEADING EDGE.

## 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 ERA24LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA249), May 22, 2024: Piper PA-28-161 (N6232H), Vero Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while on approach.

## Other reports on N6232H (1)

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

- [Incident 19820428018459I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820428018459I), Apr 28, 1982: Piper J3C65 (N6232H), Orangeburg, SC. Pilot flew the aircraft into the ground while flying low over a wheat field. Pilot injured slightly.

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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