- Date
- January 11, 2016, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4423RCessna 182
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Birdstrike
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 14, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Baton Rouge FSDO (FAA)
- FAA report
- 20160111004159A
- Case key
- 92595
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
An inadvertent collision with a bird while maneuvering during an aerial observation flight.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while performing aerial observation along a pipeline, he spotted a buzzard about 200 feet ahead of the airplane. The pilot further reported that he attempted to turn left to avoid the buzzard, but the bird changed its course and struck the right wing. The pilot landed without further incident. A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while performing aerial observation along a pipeline, he spotted a buzzard about 200 feet ahead of the airplane. The pilot further reported that he attempted to turn left to avoid the buzzard, but the bird changed its course and struck the right wing. The pilot landed without further incident. A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4423R
- Reported as
- Cessna 182 (RG)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- R18200597
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 6,537.9
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-J3C5D, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 11, 2015
- Departed
- L38 · Gonzales, LA
- Destination
- L38 · Gonzales, LA
- Equipment
- Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 21
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 20, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 835 total · 123 in this make and model · 789 as pilot in command · 202 in the last 90 days · 69 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Other flight crew
- Age
- 75
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 18, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 5,400 total · 200 in this make and model · 5,320 as pilot in command · 196 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.21 inHg
- Observed at
- KBTR, 6 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.0 MB 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.