# NTSB LAX05CA003: Cessna 152, N24373, San Jose, CA, October 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 4, 2004, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.318054, -121.819725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3181&lon=-121.8197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60295 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60295/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA003 ## Probable cause an in-flight collision with a bird. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - object - bird(s) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was on the downwind leg for landing runway 31L when a bird collided with its right wing. During an instructional local flight, the tower controller cleared the certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student to land. While abeam the numbers, a bird collided with the airplane's right wing. The CFI stated that neither he nor the student saw what kind of bird it was. They only saw a flash of the bird's wing. The CFI could tell that there was damage to the right wing, but the airplane appeared to be controllable. The CFI took control of the airplane and landed on runway 31L. After landing and clearing the runway they informed the tower of the bird strike. The damage to the leading edge of the right wing was approximately 2 feet across with about 8 to 12 inches of crushing on the longitudinal axes of the wing. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 2004, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N24373, while flying in the pattern on the downwind leg, collided with a suspected bird at Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV), San Jose, California. California In Nice, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) pilot and the student pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The local instructional flight departed RHV about 1320. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The CFI reported that while flying on the downwind leg for landing on runway 31L at RHV, after the tower controller cleared them to land and while abeam the numbers, a bird collided with the airplane's right wing. The CFI stated that neither he nor the PUI saw what kind of bird it was. They only saw a flash of the bird's wing. The CFI could tell that there was damage to the right wing, but the airplane appeared to be controllable. The CFI took control of the airplane and landed on runway 31L. After landing and clearing the runway they informed the tower of the bird strike. The damage to the leading edge of the right wing was approximately 2 feet across with about 8 to 12 inches of crushing on the longitudinal axes of the wing. The pilot stated that the airplane had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight, or prior to the collision. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24373](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24373), registered now, S/N 15280240, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15280240 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: California In Nice Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: RHV, San Jose, CA - Destination: RHV, San Jose, CA - Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview Airport, runway 31L ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 1,222 total, 771 in this make and model, 170 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20041004025689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041004025689A), Oct 4, 2004: Cessna 152, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) An instructor and student were conducting takeoff and landings on rwy 31L at Reid-Hillview airport (rhv). While on downwind abeam the approach end… 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.