- Date
- June 25, 2017, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Roseburg, OR
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N79938Cessna 172
- Defining event
- Enroute: Birdstrike
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170625012029I
- Case key
- 95454
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 in-flight collision with a bird during the approach.
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 he was in the pattern performing touch-and-go landings. During a left descending turn from downwind to base, about ten large birds came into view below the airplane's nose. He recalled that they appeared quickly and that he was unable to take evasive action. He heard and felt a strike, followed by "an appreciable drag on the left side." He also saw visible damage to the left wing. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing ribs and leading edge. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was in the pattern performing touch and go landings. During a left descending turn from downwind to base, about ten large birds came into view below the nose of the airplane. He recalled that they appeared quickly and he was unable to take evasive action. He heard and felt a strike, followed by, "an appreciable drag on the left side." He also saw visible damage to the left wing. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing ribs and leading edge. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N79938
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (K)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17258265
- Built
- 1969
- Airframe hours
- 6,111.09
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 15, 2016
- Departed
- KRBG · Roseburg, OR
- Destination
- KRBG · Roseburg, OR
- Airport
- RBG · Roseburg Rgnl, runway 34, 5,003 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 28, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 182 total · 50 in this make and model · 116 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- KRBG
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 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.