# NTSB CEN23LA394: Textron 172S, N20818, Englewood, CO, September 2, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2023, 05:54 local (11:54 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.539747, -104.85135
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5397&lon=-104.8513&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192995
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA394
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192995/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192995
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA394

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with multiple geese during initial climb.

## 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: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072449), [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: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072449), [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.

- [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and his student were conducting an instructional flight in the airport traffic pattern when the airplane collided with multiple geese during initial climb. Due to the collision, the engine experienced a loss of engine power, so the flight instructor continued straight ahead. He conducted a forced landing on a golf course and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20818](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20818), registered now, S/N 172S12579 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S
- Registry model: [Textron 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-172s) (registry code 2072449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S12579
- Year built: 2020
- Airframe hours: 1880
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Atp USA
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2023
- Departed: APA, Englewood, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 17L, 10,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 325.1 total, 299.7 in this make and model, 233.2 as pilot in command, 92.6 in the last 90 days, 59.7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12 total, 12 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KAPA, 1 nm away
- METAR: KAPA 021253Z 18004KT 10SM FEW100 SCT140 SCT220 18/08 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP147 T01780078

## 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 20230902014149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230902014149A), Sep 2, 2023: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, Centennial, CO, Substantial damage. Flight instruction at kapa, performing touch and goes. On 4th takeoff and early in the climbout, both pilots saw a line of geese but had no time to react…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192995. 23.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16131305&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot%20final_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16131246&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf
- Video - bird strike (item 3, MP4, 15.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16150745&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=N20818%20C172%20bird%20strike%20video-Rel.mp4

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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