# NTSB MIA99LA274: Piper PA-28-236, N9123P, St. Augustine, FL, September 25, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1999, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: St. Augustine, FL
- Coordinates: 29.889627, -81.310455 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8896&lon=-81.3105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47504
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA274
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47504/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA274

## Probable cause

The inadvertent inflight collision with a bird resulting in substantial damage to the right wing outboard leading edge.

## 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)
  - miscellaneous - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

While in cruise flight at 1,000 feet the aircraft collided with a medium size bird at the right wing outboard leading edge, causing substantial damage to the wing.

## Factual narrative

On September 25, 1999, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-236, N9123P, registered to an individual, collided with a bird in flight while at 1,000 feet, 15 miles south of St. Augustine, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from St. Augustine, Florida, the same day, about 1115.

The pilot stated that while in cruise flight at 1,000 feet, 15 miles south of the St. Augustine Airport, the aircraft collided with a medium-sized bird at the outboard right wing leading edge. He returned to the departure airport, St. Augustine, and landed without further incident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9123P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9123P), registered now, S/N 2811016, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-236
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-236](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236) (registry code 7102815) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2811016
- Airframe hours: 1548
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alan M. Steinberg
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1999, 21 hours before
- Departed: SGJ
- Destination: X47, BUNNELL, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,117 total, 1,025 in this make and model, 1,117 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SGJ, 15 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 19990925041409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990925041409A), Sep 25, 1999: Piper PA28236, St. Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. (.4) While in cruise flight at 1,000 feet the aircraft collided with a medium size bird at the right wing outboard leading edge, causing substantial damage to…

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.