# NTSB ERA25LA377: Piper PA28R, N8586A, Okeechobee, FL, September 27, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 27, 2025, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Okeechobee, FL - Coordinates: 27.2657, -80.855 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2657&lon=-80.8550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025 - 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): 201777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA377 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201777/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201777 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA377 ## Probable cause Collision with a bird during cruise flight. ## 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-28R-201, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102816), [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-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an instructional flight, while the airplane was in cruise flight, a large black bird suddenly appeared in a dive and struck the right wing. The airplane landed uneventfully, and a subsequent inspection revealed that the right wing had sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8586A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8586A), registered now, S/N 2844164, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R (201G) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102833) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-C1C6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-c1c6) (registry code 41833, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2844164 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 3991 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Skyborne Airline Academy Inc - Registered owner: Skyborne Airline Academy Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 12, 2025, 25 hours before - Departed: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,063 total, 95 in this make and model, 954 as pilot in command, 203 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 117 total, 14 in this make and model, 59 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: OBE - METAR: METAR KOBE 271735Z AUTO 14004KT 10SM VCTS CLR 30/27 A2985 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT E AND W= ## 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 20250927016259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250927016259A), Sep 27, 2025: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28R-201, Okechobbee, FL, Substantial damage. On September 27, at 1530 local time, a Piper PA-28R-201 aircraft, was involved in an incident while returning from an instructional flight near okeechobee,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201777. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19391031&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Completed%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 248 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19393419&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.