# NTSB ERA26LA082: Piper PA44, N156WM, Pembroke Pines, FL, December 21, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 21, 2025, 10:41 local (15:41 UTC)
- Place: Pembroke Pines, FL · 8 MILES WEST OF HWO
- Coordinates: 26.003805, -80.441237 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0038&lon=-80.4412&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 14, 2026
- 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): 202232
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202232/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202232
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA082

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird while on approach 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: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7104402), [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: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and the flight instructor were approaching the destination airport for landing when they noticed a large flock of birds. The flight instructor reported that, while maneuvering to avoid the birds, one of the birds struck the left side of the airplane’s stabilator, substantially damaging it. The pilots subsequently landed the airplane at the destination airport.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N156WM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N156WM), registered now, S/N 4496156, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA44 (180)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4496156
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 10922
- Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Fixed Wing Holding Company Inc
- Registered owner: Fixed Wing Holding Company Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 17, 2025
- Departed: HWO, Hollywood, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: HWO, North Perry
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 29; 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 January 14, 2025; seat: left; flight hours: 2,397 total, 409 in this make and model, 2,303 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2025; seat: right; flight hours: 278 total, 17 in this make and model, 197 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: KHWO, 8 nm away
- METAR: KHWO 211553Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW026 SCT036 SCT044 26/20 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP221 T02560200 PWINO $

## 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 20251221019769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251221019769A), Dec 21, 2025: Piper PA-44-180, Hollywood, FL, Substantial damage. FAA examination of aircraft N156WM initiated on December 30, 2025 at hwo airport, secure Hangar. Aircraft was observed parked in a maintenance hangar…

## Other investigations on N156WM (1)

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.

- [NTSB ERA26LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA226), Jun 2, 2026: Piper PA44 (N156WM), Opa-locka, FL, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202232. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19804330&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02-NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19805336&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20-%20Pilot%20Call%20N156WM_Rev1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 491 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19809331&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20in%20PDF-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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