What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The captain and his co-captain, jason ellzey. Planned route from Jackson, MS to starkville, MS (kjan-kstf) to take 4 passengers. PIC was in the left seat (pf) and jason was in the right seat (pm). Departed kjan on runway 34R and were instructed to fly “runway heading”. As they were climbing through approximately 2400FT and 200 KTS, 2 birds appeared slightly high and extremely close. One bird tucked its wings and dove, striking the front of the aircraft. They heard the “pop”, so they knew for sure that they hit the bird. They began to level off and reduce power to keep the speed slow (not increase above 250 KTS). ATC was informed they notified tower and requested to return to the airport. They completed all checklist and returned for an uneventful landing.
They did not see any birds climbing out and these 2 birds that they saw was at the last second and came from above us, so neither of them saw them until right before impact.
As the FAA filed it
THE CAPTAIN AND HIS CO-CAPTAIN, JASON ELLZEY. PLANNED ROUTE FROM JACKSON, MS TO STARKVILLE, MS (KJAN-KSTF) TO TAKE 4 PASSENGERS. PIC WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT (PF) AND JASON WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT (PM). DEPARTED KJAN ON RUNWAY 34R AND WERE INSTRUCTED TO FLY “RUNWAY HEADING”. AS THEY WERE CLIMBING THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 2400FT AND 200 KTS, 2 BIRDS APPEARED SLIGHTLY HIGH AND EXTREMELY CLOSE. ONE BIRD TUCKED ITS WINGS AND DOVE, STRIKING THE FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THEY HEARD THE “POP”, SO THEY KNEW FOR SURE THAT THEY HIT THE BIRD. THEY BEGAN TO LEVEL OFF AND REDUCE POWER TO KEEP THE SPEED SLOW (NOT INCREASE ABOVE 250 KTS). ATC WAS INFORMED THEY NOTIFIED TOWER AND REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THEY COMPLETED ALL CHECKLIST AND RETURNED FOR AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING.
THEY DID NOT SEE ANY BIRDS CLIMBING OUT AND THESE 2 BIRDS THAT THEY SAW WAS AT THE LAST SECOND AND CAME FROM ABOVE US, SO NEITHER OF THEM SAW THEM UNTIL RIGHT BEFORE IMPACT.