# NTSB CEN24LA025: Cessna 172R, N2444H, Riesel, TX, October 6, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 6, 2023, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Riesel, TX
- Coordinates: 31.429098, -96.982644
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4291&lon=-96.9826&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- 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): 193309
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193309/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193309
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA025

## Probable cause

An 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: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072401), [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.

- [Maneuvering: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a local instructional flight and saw several large birds in front of the airplane. They attempted to avoid the birds but were unable, and one bird collided with the left wing. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, which was difficult to control, and returned to the airport for an uneventful landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2444H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2444H), registered now, S/N 17280874, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280874
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 1641
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Texas State Technical College
- Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 28, 2023
- Airport: CNW
- Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, remote; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 465 total, 400 in this make and model, 370 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days
- Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22.4 total, 16.9 in this make and model, 16.9 in the last 90 days, 5.8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg

## 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 20231006021009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231006021009A), Oct 6, 2023: Cessna CE-172-R, Waco, TX, Substantial damage. On October 6, 2023, at 16:39 CDT in VFR conditions,13+ miles to the southeast of Waco Texas (cnw), the instructor and student were performing ground reference…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193309. 6.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 18 pages, 5 photos, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16319272&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16306688&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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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