20260329002639I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Piper PA-28-180 · Taylors, SC · March 29, 2026

Date: March 29, 2026 · 11:38 local
Place: Taylors, SC
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N2333R
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA26LA155
Reported as: Piper PA-28-180
Reported engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 619 total

N2333RRegistered now · Piper PA-28-180S/N 28-5491 · Built 1969 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-180 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

After leveling off from climb out the pilot heard a loud bang. After verifying the engine was performing the pilot then noticed damage to the aircraft's right wing. The pilot advised ATC of the bird strike, returned to the airfield, and was cleared to land without further incident.

As the FAA filed it

AFTER LEVELING OFF FROM CLIMB OUT THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG. AFTER VERIFYING THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING THE PILOT THEN NOTICED DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING. THE PILOT ADVISED ATC OF THE BIRD STRIKE, RETURNED TO THE AIRFIELD, AND WAS CLEARED TO LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA26LA155Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGreenville, SCAn in-flight collision with a bird during cruise flight.Mar 29, 2026 · Substantial damage