# Birdstrike - Type: NTSB defining event - NTSB code: 901 - CICTT category: Birdstrike - Defining event in: 244 cases - In the sequence of: 253 cases - Fatal cases: 14 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/cases.md - Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901 ## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence) - 2008: 10 / 10 - 2009: 14 / 14 - 2010: 14 / 14 - 2011: 5 / 5 - 2012: 7 / 8 - 2013: 15 / 16 - 2014: 8 / 10 - 2015: 7 / 7 - 2016: 11 / 12 - 2017: 16 / 18 - 2018: 16 / 16 - 2019: 15 / 16 - 2020: 4 / 4 - 2021: 14 / 14 - 2022: 16 / 16 - 2023: 22 / 22 - 2024: 18 / 19 - 2025: 13 / 13 - 2026: 19 / 19 ## Phase of flight - Initial climb: 37 cases - Enroute-cruise: 35 cases - Enroute: 30 cases - Takeoff: 23 cases - Approach: 22 cases - Enroute-descent: 21 cases - Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 18 cases - Maneuvering: 14 cases - Enroute-climb to cruise: 14 cases - Approach-VFR pattern final: 6 cases ## In the probable cause of these cases - [Animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045) (Environmental issues): 203 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 5 cases - [Equip certification/testing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04012015) (Organizational issues): 3 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 2 cases - [Flight surfaces (wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750) (Aircraft): 2 cases - [Flight compartment windows](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610) (Aircraft): 2 cases - [Vertical stabilizer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035530) (Aircraft): 2 cases - [Regulatory requirements](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04034020) (Organizational issues): 1 cases - [Availability of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010) (Organizational issues): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 13 cases - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 6 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 6 cases - [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350): 5 cases - [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c): 5 cases - [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p): 5 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 5 cases - [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201): 5 cases - [Boeing 737-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8): 4 cases - [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180): 3 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN27LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN27LA024), Oct 19, 2026: Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2 (N3842), St. Louis, MO, investigation ongoing - [NTSB ERA26LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA337), Sep 13, 2026: Air Tractor AT-602 (N686LA), Morven, GA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB ERA26LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA312), Aug 21, 2026: Piper PA24 (N6969P), Fort Washington, MD, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB ENG26WA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG26WA033), Aug 8, 2026: Boeing 737 (N27273), Cancun, Mexico, occurrence, minor damage - [NTSB DCA26WA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA301), Jul 29, 2026: Airbus A321 (PT-XPF), Brasilia, Brazil, incident, minor damage - [NTSB ERA26LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA299), Jul 24, 2026: Cessna 172 (N905KS), Lakeland, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while on approach. - [NTSB DCA26WA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA243), Jun 18, 2026: Bombardier CL-600-2D24 (N934XJ), Montreal, Canada, occurrence, minor damage - [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. - [NTSB DCA26WA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA216), May 17, 2026: Boeing 737-8 (N8723Q), Liberia, Costa Rica, incident - [NTSB ANC26LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA038), May 5, 2026: Textron B300C (N67RF), Salcha, AK, substantial damage, investigation ongoing NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.