# NTSB ERA14CA001: Cessna 172P, N65704, Christmas, FL, October 14, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 14, 2013, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Christmas, FL - Coordinates: 28.530376, -81.019599 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5304&lon=-81.0196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88210 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88210/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88210 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA001 ## Probable cause An inflight collision with a bird during cruise flight. ## 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 172P, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072436), [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-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that, while in cruise flight at an altitude of 2,500 feet, he observed two large birds directly ahead of the airplane. He assumed control of the airplane from the student pilot and attempted to maneuver around them, but one of the birds impacted the left wing, resulting in substantial damage. After observing no flight control anomalies, the flight instructor elected to continue to the destination airport, where he landed the airplane without incident. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor stated that, while in cruise flight at an altitude of 2,500 feet, he observed two large birds directly ahead of the airplane. He assumed control of the airplane from the student pilot and attempted to maneuver around them, but one of the birds impacted the left wing, resulting in substantial damage. After observing no flight control anomalies, the flight instructor elected to continue to the destination airport, where he landed the airplane without incident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65704](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65704), registered now, S/N 17275824, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275824 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 20270 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aerosim Academy Inc - Registered owner: Aerosim Academy Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 8, 2013 - Departed: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Destination: SFB, Sanford, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2012; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,036 total, 249 in this make and model, 711 as pilot in command, 305 in the last 90 days, 79 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 207 total, 140 in this make and model, 122 as pilot in command, 112 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: TIX, 11 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20131014020799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131014020799I), Oct 14, 2013: Cessna 172P, Christmas, FL, Minor damage. During an instructional flight on 10/14/2013, the crew of two departed merritt island airport heading back to sanford at approximately 2500 feet MSL, with an… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 27, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88210. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Damage to wing (Courtesy of Aerosim Academy) (item 2, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Damage%20to%20wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20Aerosim%20Academy)-Master.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.