# NTSB CEN25LA362: Cessna 414, N39HC, New Braunfels, TX, September 3, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 3, 2025, 10:44 local (15:44 UTC)
- Place: New Braunfels, TX
- Coordinates: 29.708, -98.13
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7080&lon=-98.1300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200938
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA362
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200938/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200938
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA362

## Probable cause

A in-flight collision with a bird during the descent for landing.

## 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 · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2075908), [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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2075908), [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: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane was about 4 miles from the destination airport in a descent to land when the airplane struck a bird. The pilot landed the airplane without incident and substantial damage was found to the right wing. Remains from the birds were submitted to the Smithsonian Institute and were found to belong to a black vulture (coragyps atratus). The average weight of a black vulture is reported to be between 3.5 and 6.6 lbs. Data archived by birdcast.info, showed bird activity at the time of the accident was between medium and high. In addition, data from usahas.com, the U.S. Air Force avian hazard advisory system, showed that the bird strike risk was severe near the collision area.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39HC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39HC), registered now, S/N 414-0469 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414
- Registry model: [Cessna 414](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414) (registry code 2075908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 414-0469
- Year built: 1973
- Engines: Continental 520-J 310 horsepower reciprocating; Continental 520-J 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Therapy Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2025, 5,624 hours before
- Departed: 5C1, San Antonio, TX
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: BAZ, runway 31, 6,503 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 24, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,600 total, 200 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KBAZ, 4 nm away
- METAR: KBAZ 031551Z VRB05KT 10SM FEW100 32/21 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP144 T03220211

## 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 20250903012449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250903012449A), Sep 3, 2025: Cessna 414, New Bruanfels, TX, Substantial damage. During apprtoach approximately 4 miles west of baz runway 31, right wing struck by a bird. Aircraft landed with no incident.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200938. 5.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19296842&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen25la362%20NTSB%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 512 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19297570&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen25la362%20photo-Rel.pdf
- Bird data (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19297973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Bird%20strike%20data-Rel.pdf
- Wildlife strike form (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19296622&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wildlife%20Strike%20Form_Redacted-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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