# NTSB ERA26LA158: Cirrus Design SR22, N41CA, Daytona Beach, FL, March 27, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 27, 2026, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Daytona Beach, FL - Coordinates: 29.184289, -81.034894 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1843&lon=-81.0349&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-change of cruise level: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 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): 202752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202752/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202752 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA158 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bird while enroute. ## 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 SR22, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2130001), [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-change of cruise level: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the enroute portion of the flight, he received instructions from air traffic control to descend to an altitude of 1,000 ft for departing traffic. Shortly after executing the descent, several birds suddenly appeared in front of the airplane leaving no time to take evasive action. One of the birds impacted, the airplane’s left-side windshield and roof structure, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot declared an emergency and landed uneventfully at a nearby airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41CA), registered now, S/N 4559, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4559 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 800.4 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-N -68B 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 2026, 9 hours before - Departed: LZU, Lawrenceville, GA - Destination: TIX, Titusville, FL - Airport: DAB, Daytona International Airport, runway 25R, 10,500 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 26, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,178 total, 774 in this make and model, 1,108 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KDAB 271453Z 25004KT 10SM CLR 25/18 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP214 T02500178 51011 ## 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 20260327002459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260327002459A), Mar 27, 2026: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Daytona Beach, FL, Substantial damage. During a daytime VFR flight from gwinnett county airport in Georgia to titusville, Florida, the aircraft was transiting southbound along the coastline near… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202752. 4.3 MB in all. - NTSB 6120 1 form (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20393832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20394424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%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.