# Accident 20260401003279A: Piper PA-28R-201, Vero Beach, FL, April 1, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 1, 2026, 17:03 local time
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Airport: Vero Beach
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: ECPS
- Location: 27.5200° N, 80.5500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5200&lon=-80.5500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8583N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8583N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-201 (registry code 7102816, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (registry code 41833, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-c1c6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C6
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,298 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA161) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260401003279A

## Narrative

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

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA26LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA161), Apr 1, 2026: Piper PA28R (N8583N), Fellsmere, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while descending to land at an airport.

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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