- Date
- December 3, 2018, 13:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9003MCessna 182
- Defining event
- Approach: Birdstrike
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 98731
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 airplane’s collision with a bird during a practice instrument 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 receiving instruction reported that, while inbound on a practice instrument landing system approach about 1 mile from the runway, something struck the left wing. He added that he landed the airplane without further incident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing sustained substantial damage. Given the evidence and the pilot's, it is likely that a bird struck the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot receiving instruction reported that, while inbound on a practice instrument landing system (ILS) approach with the "foggles (view limiting device)" on. The flight instructor reported that, about 1 mile from the runway, a something struck the left wing. The pilot added that the airplane landed without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed the left wing sustained substantial damage. It was presumed that a bird struck the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9003M
- Reported as
- Cessna 182 (P)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18264638
- Built
- 1976
- Airframe hours
- 3,341.4
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 11, 2018
- Departed
- RTS · Reno, NV
- Destination
- RTS · Reno, NV
- Flight plan
- VFR/IFR
- Airport
- RTS · Reno/Stead, runway 32, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B
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
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2018
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 8,300 total · 800 in this make and model · 60 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 18, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 284.2 total · 135.1 in this make and model · 204.8 as pilot in command · 21.7 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 7 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KRTS, 1 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
Other investigations on N9003M · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.