# NTSB ERA26LA149: Piper PA-28-181, N697LH, Sanford, FL, March 6, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 6, 2026, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Sanford, FL · Orlando Sanford International Airport - Coordinates: 28.78184, -81.235063 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7818&lon=-81.2351&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 7, 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): 202649 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202649/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA149 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bird during initial climb. ## 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. - [Initial climb: 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 following a successful landing, the student pilot had applied full power and began the takeoff and climb. During the climb, a large bird struck the airplane, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor subsequently landed the airplane on a parallel runway without further incident. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N697LH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N697LH), registered now, S/N 2881686, built 2023 (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 IO-360-B4A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b4a) (registry code 41867, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2881686 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 1740.7 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Acron Aviation - Registered owner: Ff22 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 15, 2026, 1,741 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Airport: SFB, Orlando Sanford Intl, runway 09L, 11,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,503 total, 728 in this make and model, 1,362 as pilot in command, 357 in the last 90 days, 148 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; last flight review May 13, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 105 total, 0 in this make and model, 55 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: SFB - METAR: METAR KSFB 062153Z 10SM CLR 28/17 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP217 T02830167= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20260306003799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260306003799I), Mar 6, 2026: Piper PA-28-181, Sanford, FL, Minor damage. Struck a bird departing runway 9R and returned to airport immediatly and landed safely. 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.