What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On February 27, 2026, a Cessna 172S, sustained other than substantial damage to the right-wing tip and leading edge from a bird strike 4NM nw of Martin State Airport (kmtn) at altitude between 015 and 020 base to final runway 15. The PIC contacted the kmtn tower after landing to report the incident.
The PIC was interviewed by this reporting inspector and stated that a vulture type bird hit the aircraft after he completed a 360° right turn as order by the kmtn control tower. When the aircraft was around 4 NM on base final, the PIC identified two vulture type birds flying in soaring patterns before one of them hit the right-wing tip and leading edge, the PIC remained in control of the aircraft and landed without incidents. No injuries were reported, and visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed. The operation was conducted under 14 CFR part 91 rules.
As the FAA filed it
ON FEBRUARY 27, 2026, A CESSNA 172S, SUSTAINED OTHER THAN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT-WING TIP AND LEADING EDGE FROM A BIRD STRIKE 4NM NW OF MARTIN STATE AIRPORT (KMTN) AT ALTITUDE BETWEEN 015 AND 020 BASE TO FINAL RUNWAY 15. THE PIC CONTACTED THE KMTN TOWER AFTER LANDING TO REPORT THE INCIDENT.
THE PIC WAS INTERVIEWED BY THIS REPORTING INSPECTOR AND STATED THAT A VULTURE TYPE BIRD HIT THE AIRCRAFT AFTER HE COMPLETED A 360° RIGHT TURN AS ORDER BY THE KMTN CONTROL TOWER. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS AROUND 4 NM ON BASE FINAL, THE PIC IDENTIFIED TWO VULTURE TYPE BIRDS FLYING IN SOARING PATTERNS BEFORE ONE OF THEM HIT THE RIGHT-WING TIP AND LEADING EDGE, THE PIC REMAINED IN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENTS. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, AND VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) PREVAILED. THE OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 RULES.
Other reports on N45EF · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.