# NTSB ERA25LA026: Cirrus Design SR20, N50068, Sebring, FL, October 24, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 24, 2024, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Sebring, FL
- Coordinates: 27.49307, -81.4379
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4931&lon=-81.4379&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 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): 195391
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195391/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195391
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA026

## Probable cause

A birdstrike during descent to the destination airport.

## 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: [Cirrus Design SR20, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2130000), [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-descent: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during descent from 3,500 ft to traffic pattern altitude of his destination airport, the airplane impacted a bird at an altitude about 1,900 ft above ground level. The pilot continued to the destination airport and landed uneventfully. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged during the collision.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50068](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50068), registered now, S/N 2723, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-390-C3B6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-c3b6) (registry code 42710, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2723
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 1618
- Engines: Lycoming IO-390-C3B6 215 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: PRP Aviation
- Registered owner: Ocala Aircraft Management LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 21, 2024
- Departed: OCF, Ocala, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Video recording device, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 11, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 162 total, 61 in this make and model, 73 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: SEF, 6 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSEF 241735Z AUTO 05006KT 10SM SCT042 SCT047 28/19 A3002 RMK AO2 T02830189=

## 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 20241024015139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241024015139A), Oct 24, 2024: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Sebring, FL, Substantial damage. On 10/24/2024 a Cirrus SR20 was 5 miles north of the Sebring, FL airport (sef) when the aircraft struck a large bird. The aircraft was able to land without…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195391. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17919478&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17919182&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.

---
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.