What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
As the flight arrived in the practice area, one eights-on-pylons maneuver was completed before repositioning to new pylons slightly north of the aircraft’s location. While turning left to re-enter the maneuver from the northwest, a large black bird was observed approaching the right wing, and a collision occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m., producing a loud impact felt throughout the cabin. After the wings were leveled, extensive damage was observed on the leading edge of the right wing. The instructor took control of the aircraft, noted a moderate tendency for the aircraft to roll and yaw to the right, and climbed to approximately 2,500 feet MSL at about 85 knots. An emergency was declared with norcal approach on frequency 120.1, and after confirming San Martin Airport was the closer airport, the instructor proceeded with a straight-in approach to runway 14.
As the FAA filed it
AS THE FLIGHT ARRIVED IN THE PRACTICE AREA, ONE EIGHTS-ON-PYLONS MANEUVER WAS COMPLETED BEFORE REPOSITIONING TO NEW PYLONS SLIGHTLY NORTH OF THE AIRCRAFT’S LOCATION. WHILE TURNING LEFT TO RE-ENTER THE MANEUVER FROM THE NORTHWEST, A LARGE BLACK BIRD WAS OBSERVED APPROACHING THE RIGHT WING, AND A COLLISION OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 P.M., PRODUCING A LOUD IMPACT FELT THROUGHOUT THE CABIN. AFTER THE WINGS WERE LEVELED, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, NOTED A MODERATE TENDENCY FOR THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL AND YAW TO THE RIGHT, AND CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 2,500 FEET MSL AT ABOUT 85 KNOTS. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED WITH NORCAL APPROACH ON FREQUENCY 120.1, AND AFTER CONFIRMING SAN MARTIN AIRPORT WAS THE CLOSER AIRPORT, THE INSTRUCTOR PROCEEDED WITH A STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 14.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N55231 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.