# NTSB ERA24LA306: Piper PA28, N268MG, Cochran, GA, July 10, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 10, 2024, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Cochran, GA · On downwind abeam the numbers for runway 29 - Coordinates: 32.394894, -83.275893 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3949&lon=-83.2759&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 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): 194715 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194715/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194715 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA306 ## Probable cause The airplane’s impact with a bird resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. ## 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. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 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 flight instructor reported that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern he saw two large birds. He stated “birds” to his student, took the controls, and attempted to avoid the birds. One of the birds impacted the leading edge of the right wing resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor subsequently landed the airplane without further incident. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N268MG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N268MG), registered now, S/N 2881366, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102832) (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: 2881366 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 3075 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Middle Georgia State University - Registered owner: Georgia Aviation Authority - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 3, 2024, 15 hours before - Airport: 48A, Cochran, runway 29, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 36; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 12, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,048.1 total, 1,172.8 in this make and model, 1,940.8 as pilot in command, 74.5 in the last 90 days, 18.6 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 5, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 326.6 total, 267.8 in this make and model, 271.9 as pilot in command, 8.5 in the last 90 days, 2.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: EZM, 13 nm away - METAR: KEZM 101455Z AUTO 28005KT 10SM SCT026 29/23 A3001 RMK AO2 ## 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 20240710021609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240710021609A), Jul 10, 2024: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181, Cochran, GA, Substantial damage. On 07/10/2024, flight instructor (fi) was performing a review flight with a student pilot for a CFI eoc. Aircraft was performing flight pattern approach… ## 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=194715. 3.7 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=17419170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� flight instructor statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17417411&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17406266&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA306%20Photo%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. --- 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.