# NTSB ERA24LA106: Cessna 172, N2150G, Smyrna, TN, February 5, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 5, 2024, 23:28 UTC
- Place: Smyrna, TN
- Coordinates: 36.008167, -86.518186 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0082&lon=-86.5182&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: 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: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193751
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193751/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193751
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA106

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird during initial climb.

## 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 172S, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072439), [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.

- [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that during the initial climb, he observed a bird dive down from above the airplane. The bird impacted the top portion of the windshield, resulting in substantial damage to the windshield. After the impact, the pilots checked themselves for injuries and for any control issues with the airplane. Both pilots were uninjured, and the airplane operated normally. The flight instructor landed the airplane without further incident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2150G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2150G), registered now, S/N 172S9516 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9516
- Year built: 2003
- Airframe hours: 12352.8
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Msb Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Msb Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 8, 2024, 50 hours before
- Departed: M56, Lebanon, TN
- Destination: MQY, Smyrna, TN
- Airport: MQY, Smyrna
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 30, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 262 total, 256 in this make and model, 202 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 29; 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 January 8, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 1,226 total, 1,060 in this make and model, 1,140 as pilot in command, 156 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: MQY, 25 nm away
- METAR: KMQY 052356Z 35009KT 10SM CLR 12/00 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP147 T01220000 10178 20122 53025

## 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 20240205000659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240205000659A), Feb 5, 2024: Cessna 172S, Lebanon, TN, Substantial damage. The airman departed M54 and during the climb just prior to leveling off for cruise, the airman was struck by a bird. The bird was above them and dove down to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193751. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16759934&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20N2150G%20NTSB%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 727 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16760864&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20Investigation%20Photos-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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