# NTSB MIA01LA017: Piper PA-44-180, N928ER, Daytona Beach, FL, October 21, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 21, 2000, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Daytona Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 29.170705, -81.140731 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1707&lon=-81.1407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50551
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50551/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA017

## Probable cause

an inadvertent inflight collision with a bird during cruise flight that resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - bird(s)

## Analysis

The flight instructor stated that the aircraft was in level flight, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, when a large bird impacted the outboard section of the right wing's leading edge. The instructor then declared an emergency, took control of the airplane from the student, and executing a precautionary landing at Spruce Creek, Florida. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the aircraft as a result of the bird strike.

## Factual narrative

On October 21, 2000, about 1140 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N928ER, registered to and operated by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight experienced a bird strike while en route to Daytona Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The commercial-rated flight instructor, and dual student were not injured. The flight originated from New Smyrna Beach, Florida, the same day, about 1000.

The flight instructor stated that the aircraft was in level flight, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, when a large bird impacted the outboard section of the right wing's leading edge. The instructor further stated that after the impact, he saw a hole in the leading edge of the wing, so he declared an emergency, took control of the airplane from the student, and executing a precautionary landing at Spruce Creek, Florida. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the aircraft as a result of the bird strike.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N928ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N928ER-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 4496026, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-44-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4496026
- Airframe hours: 1172
- Engines: Lycoming LO-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Embry Riddle Aeronautical Univ
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 13, 2000, 0 hours before
- Departed: EVB, NEW SMYRNA BEAC, FL
- Destination: DAB, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,282 total, 89 in this make and model, 1,175 as pilot in command, 147 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAB, 10 nm away

## 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 20001021041209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001021041209A), Oct 21, 2000: Piper PA44180, Daytona Beach, FL, No damage. (-23)On October 21, 2000, at 1140 EDT, N928ER, a Piper PA-44-180, operated by embry-riddle aeronautical university while on an instructional flight experienced…

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.

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