# Incident 20241221018609I: Cessna 172N, Kalispell, MT, December 21, 2024

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 21, 2024, 12:25 local time
- Place: Kalispell, MT
- Airport: Glacier Park International
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.3105° N, 114.2560° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GLACIER PARK INTL (GPI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3105&lon=-114.2560&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6506D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6506D) (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: 1,180 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241221018609I

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION:

WHILE OPERATING FOR THE PURPOSES OF FLIGHT TRAINING AT GLACIER PARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KGPI) THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BIRD ON APPROACH TO LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT-WING’S LEADING EDGE.

CASUAL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

THE PILOT STATED THAT ON TURNING BASE TO FINAL APPROACH A DUCK (LARGE BIRD) FLEW INTO THEIR PATH CAUSING THEM TO DEVIATE FOR SAFETY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HAD THEY NOT DEVIATED THE BIRD WOULD HAVE STRUCK THE PROPELLER AND POSSIBLY THE WINDOW.

NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT.

NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SYSTEMATIC CORRECTIVE ACTION.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN TO CORECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT REOCCURANCE:

NO ACTION NESSISARY.

SAS ID: NM05202500680

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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