# Incident 20250314002309I: Piper PA-28-161, Vero Beach, FL, March 14, 2025

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 14, 2025, 21:15 local time
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Airport: Vero Beach Municipal
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Location: 27.6556° N, 80.4180° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at VERO BEACH RGNL (VRB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4180&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2845Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2845Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 1,087 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250314002309I

## Narrative

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

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.

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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