# NTSB ERA22LA110: Miller Roger Thatcher CX4, N254RM, Angier, NC, January 18, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 18, 2022, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Angier, NC · Adjacent to Dollar General
- Coordinates: 35.539246, -78.7458
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5392&lon=-78.7458&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/ FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104538
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104538/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104538
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA110

## Probable cause

The pilot’s encounter with a flock of birds on final approach, which resulted in a loss of control, an aerodynamic stall and spin, and impact with trees and terrain.

## 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 personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Miller Roger THATCHER CX4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=05630QP), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Miller Roger THATCHER CX4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05630QP), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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: [Miller Roger THATCHER CX4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=05630QP), [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-VFR pattern final: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Miller Roger THATCHER CX4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=05630QP), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Miller Roger THATCHER CX4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05630QP), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Miller Roger THATCHER CX4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05630QP), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that following a local flight, on final approach to land, about ¼ mile from the runway, he glanced down at the airspeed indicator, and then glanced up and “all of a sudden” a flock of birds flew into the airplane. He stated it was “like a wall” or like a “machine gun” going off in his flight path. He reported that the birds collided with the airplane and after that point he “was a passenger”. He recalled the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and spin and subsequently descended and impacted trees and terrain. The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N254RM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N254RM), registered now, S/N 398 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MILLER ROGER THATCHER CX4 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Miller Roger THATCHER CX4](https://openairdocs.org/model/miller-roger-thatcher-cx4) (registry code 05630QP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 398
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 278
- Engines: Hummel 2180 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 24, 2021
- Airport: 78NC, Fuquay/Angier Fld, runway 14-32, 2,780 × 90 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: serious; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 2, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,057 total, 110 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: HRJ, 10 nm away
- METAR: KHRJ 181835Z AUTO 31003KT 10SM CLR 10/M05 A3014 RMK AO2 T01001050

## 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 20220118000759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220118000759A), Jan 18, 2022: Miller Roger THATCHER CX4, Angier, NC, Destroyed. Pilot stated to NTSB during a phone call on 1/19/2022: The individual noted above provided the following information via a telephone call. The below contents…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104538. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13593051&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation (PIC) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13593173&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(PIC)-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13593061&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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