# Incident 20251002019372I: Piper ARCHER, MI, October 2, 2025

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 2025, 14:00 local time
- Place: MI
- Damage: Minor damage
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N9659W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9659W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER ARCHER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251002019372I

## Narrative

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

WHILE IN CRUISE AT 3000 FEET, THE PILOT SAW SOMETHING FLY OVER TOP OF HIS WING, AND SUBSEQUENTLY HEARD A THUD NEAR THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT THEN TESTED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO ENSURE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR DISCONNECTION IN THE FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES. UPON LANDING, THE PILOT OBSERVED DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STABILATOR. THE DAMAGE APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY METAL TO METAL CONTACT AND HE ASSUMED IT WAS A DRONE THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE, AS IT WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH A BIRD STRIKE IN HIS OPINION. PILOT THEN CALLED TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE FSDO.

## Other aircraft in the event

- NONE: no report for this aircraft in the release

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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