# NTSB WPR26LA015: Cessna 172S, N103VK, Lathrop, CA, October 4, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 4, 2025, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Lathrop, CA · Estimated point in flight where impact occurred. - Coordinates: 37.84558, -121.49025 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8456&lon=-121.4903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201832/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201832 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA015 ## Probable cause An inflight collision with a bird. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a training flight in visual meteorological conditions at 900 ft mean sea level, an object impacted the left wing of the airplane, which resulted in substantial damage. According to the FAA, there were no reported missing drones in the area at the time of the accident and a review of radar data showed no primary radar targets in the area. The FAA reported significant bird migration activity, which included several large bird species that would have been active in the area at the time of the accident. While there was no evidence of bird remnants or feathers on the wing, the impact area spanned nearly 3 ft with no puncture of the leading-edge skin, consistent with impact with a large bird. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N103VK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N103VK), registered now, S/N 172S8532, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8532 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 6651.9 - Engines: Lycoming 10-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Skyview Aviation - Registered owner: CC Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2025 - Departed: TCY, Tracy, CA - Airport: None, Open field - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 17, 2025; seat: right; flight hours: 1,982 total, 378 in this make and model, 1,908 as pilot in command, 112.4 in the last 90 days, 16.3 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 10, 2025; seat: left; flight hours: 225.2 total, 80.3 in this make and model, 172.9 as pilot in command, 63.3 in the last 90 days, 29.7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: TCY, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KTCY 042035Z AUTO VRB06KT 10SM CLR 23/10 A2995 RMK A01 ## Other investigations on N103VK (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR20CA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA293), Aug 18, 2020: Cessna 172 (N103VK), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper pitch attitude and landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructors delayed remedial action. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201832. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19484793&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA015,%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20167667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.pdf - Reports from federal agencies (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20078356&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record, excerpt from us fish and wildlife report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20167541&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Factual%20Information-Rel.pdf 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.