# NTSB ANC07CA017: Piper PA-46-500TP, N760C, Vero Beach, FL, January 31, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 31, 2007, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.42, -80.636108
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4200&lon=-80.6361&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65383
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07CA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65383/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA017

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird while maneuvering, which resulted in structural damage to the left wing of the airplane.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - bird(s) (cause)

## Analysis

The private certificated pilot/owner, accompanied by a certificated flight instructor and a passenger, departed on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 local area instructional flight in a new, high performance airplane.  As part of the purchase of the airplane, the instructor was providing transition training into the new airplane to the pilot/owner and the passenger.  As the pilot was maneuvering the airplane in simulated instrument conditions, the left wing of the airplane was struck by a large bird.  The collision resulted in structural damage to the wing, and a fuel leak when the left wing fuel tank was ruptured.  An emergency landing was made at the departure airport.

## Factual narrative

The private certificated pilot/owner, accompanied by a certificated flight instructor and a passenger, departed on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 local area instructional flight in a new, high performance airplane.  As part of the purchase of the airplane, the instructor was providing transition training into the new airplane to the pilot/owner and the passenger.  As the pilot was maneuvering the airplane in simulated instrument conditions, the left wing of the airplane was struck by a large bird.  The collision resulted in structural damage to the wing, and a fuel leak when the left wing fuel tank was ruptured.  An emergency landing was made at the departure airport.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N760C (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-500TP
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4697289
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Robert M. Taylor
- Registered owner: SAN-B Air, LTD.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KVRB, Vero Beach, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 1,607 total, 4 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days
- Other flight crew; age 52; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: right; flight hours: 11,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F

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.

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