# NTSB ERA26LA161: Piper PA28R, N8583N, Fellsmere, FL, April 1, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 1, 2026, 16:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Fellsmere, FL - Coordinates: 27.52, -80.55 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5200&lon=-80.5500&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 9, 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): 202761 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202761/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202761 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA161 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bird while descending to land at an 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 operation (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-descent: 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 The flight instructor reported that while returning to the airport from a lesson, both he and the student saw a medium-sized bird at their 12 o’clock position. The airplane was descending through 1,400 feet mean sea level when the bird dove into their flight path, impacting the left wing’s leading edge. The student continued to the airport as the pilot flying and landed without further incident. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the left wing had been substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8583N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8583N), registered now, S/N 2844161, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R (201) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-C1C6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-c1c6) (registry code 41833, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2844161 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 4154.1 - 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: 100 hour, March 27, 2026, 14 hours before - Departed: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Regional Airport - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,298 total, 147 in this make and model, 1,159 as pilot in command, 259 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 128 total, 19 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: VRB, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KVRB 012053Z 11011KT 10SM FEW032 SCT042 BKN049 24/17 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP215 T02440172 58020= ## 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 20260401003279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260401003279A), Apr 1, 2026: Piper PA-28R-201, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. April 1, 2026 at approximately 16:48 on approach, at 1400' altitude and 115 knots airspeed, into vrb, crew was descending and running approach checks. When… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202761. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20512621&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 199 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20513563&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph-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.