# NTSB ERA24LA295: Piper PA-28-181, N471A, Clearwater, FL, July 6, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 6, 2024, 13:14 local (17:14 UTC)
- Place: Clearwater, FL
- Coordinates: 27.898059, -82.676496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8981&lon=-82.6765&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: 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): 194630
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA295
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194630/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194630
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA295

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird while flying in the airport traffic pattern.

## 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: [Piper PA-28-181, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102807), [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.

- [Maneuvering: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that after completing multiple uneventful touch-and-go landings they were on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern. While flying at an airspeed of about 90 kts and at 1,000 ft agl, he spotted a bird directly in front of the airplane. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and abruptly pushed the control stick to try and avoid the bird. The student pilot described seeing the bird also enter a dive before it struck the top of the windshield, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage above the windshield. The flight instructor declared an emergency and landed without further issue. Both pilots reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N471A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N471A), registered now, S/N 2843743, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2843743
- Year built: 2013
- Airframe hours: 7620
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: ATP Flight School
- Registered owner: Archer Aircraft LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 5, 2024, 6.3 hours before
- Departed: PIE, Clearwater, FL
- Airport: PIE, St Pete-Clearwater Intl, runway 36, 9,730 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 25, 2023; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,199.7 total, 938.5 in this make and model, 1,068.4 as pilot in command, 359.2 in the last 90 days, 166.3 in the last 30 days, 7.5 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 1 nm away
- METAR: KPIE 061653Z 07007KT 10SM CLR 33/24 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP149 T03280244

## 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 20240706007209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240706007209A), Jul 6, 2024: Piper PA-28-181, Clearwater, FL, Substantial damage. On Saturday July 6th pilot of Piper pa 28 was flight instructing at kpie. It was a perfect VFR day, the winds were calm around 4 KTS, Visibility 10 sm and the…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194630. 7.4 MB in all.

- Instructor pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17412076&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Incident%20Report%20Form%206120.1%20IP_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Student pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17411043&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Incident%20Report%20Form%206120.1%20SP_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 590 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17411260&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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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