# NTSB CEN24LA372: Piper PA-46-310P, N62VM, Eden Prairie, MN, September 27, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 27, 2024, 20:14 UTC - Place: Eden Prairie, MN - Coordinates: 44.82, -93.45 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8200&lon=-93.4500&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195217 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA372 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195217/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195217 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA372 ## Probable cause The bird strike during cruise flight that resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. ## 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 · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-46-310P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7104605), [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-46-310P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7104605), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the personal flight reported that he was enroute to his destination airport when he began a 500 fpm rate descent to 3,000 ft msl. While descending through 4,100 ft msl, a bald eagle, that was above the airplane’s flight path descended at about a 40o angle and struck the airplane’s left wing. The airplane continued to without any appreciable change to its performance and the pilot continued to the destination airport. For the approach, the pilot extended the landing gear, extended the wing flaps to 10o, and slowed the airplane to 105-110 kts for level flight at 3,000 ft msl. On final approach, the pilot flew the airplane at 85-90 kts and landed uneventfully with 30o of wing flaps. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62VM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62VM), registered now, S/N 46-8608008, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-310P - Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520-BE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-be) (registry code 17277, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46-8608008 - Year built: 1986 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-BE reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ENW, Kenosha, WI - Destination: FCM, Eden Prarie, WI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FCM - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 7, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 716 total, 68 in this make and model, 635 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20240927014829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240927014829A), Sep 27, 2024: Piper PA-46-310P, Red Wing, MN, Substantial damage. PIC and passenger departed in Piper malibu via IFR. At 4,100 MSL, the aircraft sustained a bird strike to the left outboard Wing. PIC contacted ATC and alerted… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195217. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17779531&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Bird identification (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17779937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=162228%20Bald%20Eagle-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17779397&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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. --- 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.