- Date
- October 16, 1993, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Culebra, PR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N16582Cessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 37451
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 poor in-flight decision of the pilot-in-command to bank the airplane while flying low level instead of climbing to avoid collision with a bird. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was practicing low flight over water and took evasive action to avoid a bird. During the evasive maneuver the left wing struck the water.
Factual narrative
On October 16, 1993, about 1100 Atlantic standard time, N16582, a Cessna 172-M, registered to Pyrometer Assoc. Inc., and operated by James P. Matyas experienced a wing strike while maneuvering over water near Culebra, Puerto Rico, while on a 14 CFR 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from San Juan, Puerto Rico, about 20 minutes earlier.
The pilot stated that while practicing low flight, about 10 feet above the water, he observed a bird directly ahead, and initiated an evasive maneuver. The left wing struck the water damaging the tip, aileron, and rear spar. He then returned to the airport. The FAA and the NTSB were not notified of this accident until October 25, 1993.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N16582
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 64656
- Airframe hours
- 2,425
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Matyas, James P.
- Registered owner
- Pyrometer Associates Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 19, 1992 · 81 hours before
- Departed
- SIG · San Juan, PR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,530 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 13 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JSJ, 25 nm away