# NTSB CEN23LA207: American AA-5, N1972G, Fort Worth, TX, May 23, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 23, 2023, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Coordinates: 32.5, -97.45
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5000&lon=-97.4500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192254
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA207
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192254/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192254
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA207

## Probable cause

An inflight 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: [American AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=0631410), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [American AA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=0631410), [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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [American AA-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0631410), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while enroute to his destination, a large bird impacted the airplane’s left wing, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure. The pilot declared an emergency and landed the airplane uneventfully at the closest airport.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1972G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1972G), registered now, S/N AA5-0157, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AA-5
- Registry model: [American AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-5) (registry code 0631410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5-0157
- Year built: 1972
- Airframe hours: 6341
- Engines: Lycoming O320-E2G 160 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Eugene L. Capone, doing business as Cross Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 2022, 66.6 hours before
- Departed: 50F, Cleburne, TX
- Destination: KFWS, Fort Worth, TX
- Equipment: Data recorder, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 17, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 127 total, 68 in this make and model, 89 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KFWS, 8 nm away
- METAR: KFWS 232150Z 09009KT 10SM SCT050 30/18 A2994

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192254. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15944475&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15944395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-Rel.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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