# NTSB CEN10CA202: Piper PA-24-180, N6314P, Middlefield, OH, April 11, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 11, 2010, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Middlefield, OH
- Coordinates: 41.449722, -81.063056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4497&lon=-81.0631&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Cleveland FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75756
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75756/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75756
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA202

## Probable cause

The inadvertent in-flight collision with a bird.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102403), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7102403), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane collided with an eagle during cruise flight while descending through 2,700 feet. After the bird strike, he diverted to a nearby airport and made an uneventful landing. A postaccident inspection revealed that the airplane had received substantial damage to the engine firewall and right cockpit windshield. All observed damage was consistent with the airplane colliding with a bird while in flight.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane collided with an eagle while descending through 2,700 feet. After the bird strike, he diverted to a nearby airport and made an uneventful landing. A postaccident inspection revealed that the airplane had received substantial damage to the engine firewall and right cockpit windshield. All observed damage was consistent with the airplane colliding with a bird while in flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6314P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6314P), registered now, S/N 24-1424, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1424
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KLNN, Willoughby, OH
- Destination: Middlefield, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 845 total, 490 in this make and model, 773 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observed at: KCGF, 19 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20100411031429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100411031429A), Apr 11, 2010: Piper PA-24-180, Middlefield, OH, Substantial damage. Leaving 3000MSL down to 2700MSL acft was struck by a bald eagle. Bird's left wing was severed by prop blade. No apparent damage to prop or spinner. Contacted…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75756.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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