# Animal(s)/bird(s) - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030220) › Animal(s)/bird(s) - NTSB code: 03022045 - Cases: 359 - In the probable cause: 343 - Fatal cases: 17 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 20 / 21 - 2009: 17 / 18 - 2010: 20 / 21 - 2011: 7 / 9 - 2012: 20 / 20 - 2013: 22 / 22 - 2014: 15 / 15 - 2015: 10 / 11 - 2016: 19 / 19 - 2017: 24 / 26 - 2018: 20 / 22 - 2019: 24 / 24 - 2020: 9 / 9 - 2021: 19 / 19 - 2022: 19 / 21 - 2023: 23 / 24 - 2024: 25 / 27 - 2025: 18 / 19 - 2026: 12 / 12 ## Defining events in these cases - [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 205 cases - [Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310): 93 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 12 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 5 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 5 cases - [Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270): 5 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 5 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 5 cases - [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 5 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 4 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 16 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 15 cases - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 9 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 7 cases - [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p): 6 cases - [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350): 5 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 5 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22T](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22t): 5 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 5 cases - [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c): 5 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 26 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 19 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 13 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 9 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047) (Environmental issues): 5 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 5 cases - [Flight compartment windows](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610) (Aircraft): 5 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA26LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA293), Aug 5, 2026: Beech 58 (N29DA), Carlisle, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A collision with a deer during landing. - [NTSB CEN26LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA291), Aug 3, 2026: Vans RV8 (N412CV), Linden, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The collision with a deer during touch-and-go landings. - [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 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 ANC26LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA038), May 5, 2026: Textron B300C (N67RF), Salcha, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird during cruise flight. - [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. - [NTSB ERA26LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA155), Mar 29, 2026: Piper PA-28-180 (N2333R), Greenville, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird during cruise flight. - [NTSB ERA26LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA158), Mar 27, 2026: Cirrus Design SR22 (N41CA), Daytona Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while enroute. - [NTSB ERA26LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA149), Mar 6, 2026: Piper PA-28-181 (N697LH), Sanford, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird during initial climb. - [NTSB ERA26LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA142), Mar 6, 2026: Piper PA-28-181 (N658FT), Chuluota, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while enroute. 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.