- Date
- April 12, 2002, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Longview, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N61LUCessna 172R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020412007079A
- Case key
- 54543
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The in-flight collision with a bird.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While established on a left base for runway 17, the pilot observed a large bird approximately 100 yards ahead of the airplane. After the bird flew above the airplane the pilot lost visual contact with the bird. Subsequently, the bird struck the right wing of the airplane. The pilot continued the approach and landed the airplane without further incident.
Factual narrative
On April 12, 2002, at 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 172R single-engine airplane, N61LU, was substantially damaged when it collided with a bird while on a VFR approach at the East Texas Regional Airport (GGG), near Longview, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the LeTourneau University of Longview. The instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from GGG, at 1500.
The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that while the airplane was established on a left base for runway 17, he observed a large bird approximately 100 yards ahead of the airplane. After the bird flew above the airplane the pilot lost visual contact with the bird. Subsequently, the bird struck the right wing of the airplane. The 150-hour pilot was able to continue the approach and landed the airplane without further incident.
Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, revealed that the leading edge of the right wing was crushed and several structural ribs were damaged. The main spar for the right wing was also damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N61LU
- Reported as
- Cessna 172R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17250589
- Airframe hours
- 2,343
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- LeTourneau University
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · April 5, 2002 · 23 hours before
- Departed
- GGG · Longview, TX
- Airport
- GGG · East Texas Regional Airport, runway 17, 6,109 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 20
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- January 7, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 150 total · 125 in this make and model · 80 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- GGG
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 167 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.