What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
April 1, 2026 at approximately 16:48 on approach, at 1400' altitude and 115 knots airspeed, into vrb, crew was descending and running approach checks. When about to make call for entry into the delta, a bird of medium size dove horizontally into the left wing.
The strike was last minute, and the crew had little to no time to react and continued to land safely.
The damage was noted to the leading edge, outboard of the fuel tank and definded as substantial, requiring skin replacement, major repair.
As the FAA filed it
APRIL 1, 2026 AT APPROXIMATELY 16:48 ON APPROACH, AT 1400' ALTITUDE AND 115 KNOTS AIRSPEED, INTO VRB, CREW WAS DESCENDING AND RUNNING APPROACH CHECKS. WHEN ABOUT TO MAKE CALL FOR ENTRY INTO THE DELTA, A BIRD OF MEDIUM SIZE DOVE HORIZONTALLY INTO THE LEFT WING.
THE STRIKE WAS LAST MINUTE, AND THE CREW HAD LITTLE TO NO TIME TO REACT AND CONTINUED TO LAND SAFELY.
THE DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO THE LEADING EDGE, OUTBOARD OF THE FUEL TANK AND DEFINDED AS SUBSTANTIAL, REQUIRING SKIN REPLACEMENT, MAJOR REPAIR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.