# Accident 20260611005979A: Cessna 172S, San Jose, CA, June 11, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 11, 2026, 15:30 local time
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Airport: San Martin
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Location: 37.1917° N, 121.7238° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1917&lon=-121.7238&mi=10
- Aircraft: N55231, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55231) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 847 total, 526 in this make and model, 99 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA220) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260611005979A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR26LA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA220), Jun 11, 2026: Cessna 172S (N55231), Morgan Hill, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird.

## Other reports on N55231 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20200802014109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200802014109A), Aug 2, 2020: Cessna 172S (N55231), San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. San Jose, CA (rhv): N55231, C172, rhvorig rptd as bird strike downwind RWY31R. Data was removed from the garmin G1000. Data tracks were removed and laid out…

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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