What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
At about 9:15 p.m. eastern time, aircraft was at approximately 700 feet turning crosswind to downwind when crew heard a sudden thud and felt an impact of some sort. Crew said airplane felt slower and sluggish, but had full control authority of aircraft. Tower cleared aircraft to land on runway 12L.
Upon landing it was discovered that a large bird struck the vertical stabilizer. Aircraft downed for maintenance.
No injuries to crew.
As the FAA filed it
AT ABOUT 9:15 P.M. EASTERN TIME, AIRCRAFT WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET TURNING CROSSWIND TO DOWNWIND WHEN CREW HEARD A SUDDEN THUD AND FELT AN IMPACT OF SOME SORT. CREW SAID AIRPLANE FELT SLOWER AND SLUGGISH, BUT HAD FULL CONTROL AUTHORITY OF AIRCRAFT. TOWER CLEARED AIRCRAFT TO LAND ON RUNWAY 12L.
UPON LANDING IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A LARGE BIRD STRUCK THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. AIRCRAFT DOWNED FOR MAINTENANCE.
NO INJURIES TO CREW.