# NTSB CEN13CA169: Cessna 152, N95670, Murphysboro, IL, February 15, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 14, 2013, 19:10 local (Feb 15, 2013, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Murphysboro, IL - Coordinates: 37.778057, -89.251945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7781&lon=-89.2519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86265 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86265/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86265 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA169 ## Probable cause An inadvertent encounter with birds while on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern. ## 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 · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2071835), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing a night solo flight to practice some night landings. While on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern after his first takeoff, he saw a “flash” of four to six birds fly through his field of view from the bottom left to the top right of the airplane and subsequently heard a loud noise. He said that the impact lifted the right wing upward slightly and that he thought it was a bird strike. He landed the airplane without further incident. The next day, the pilot noticed substantial damage to the right wing. ## Factual narrative The pilot was performing a night solo flight to practice some night landings. While on downwind during his first traffic pattern, he saw a flash of four to six birds fly through his field of view from the bottom left to the top right of the airplane and subsequently heard a loud noise. He indicated that the impact lifted the right wing upward slightly and he thought it was a bird strike. He landed the airplane without further incident. The immediate postflight inspection of the airplane did not reveal any damage. However, substantial damage to the right wing was found the day after the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95670](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95670), registered now, S/N 15285957, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285957 - Airframe hours: 11953 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Southern Illinois University Board Of Trustees DBA - Registered owner: Southern Illinois University Board Of Trustees DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 14, 2012 - Departed: MDH, Murphysboro, IL - Destination: MDH, Murphysboro, IL - Airport: MDH, Southern Illinois Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 10, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 142 total, 33 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: MDH, 1 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 20130214001379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130214001379A), Feb 14, 2013: Cessna 152, Murphysboro, IL, Substantial damage. Struck bird while on downwind in traffic pattern ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86265. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388028&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. --- 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.