# NTSB WPR26LA220: Cessna 172S, N55231, Morgan Hill, CA, June 11, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 11, 2026, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Morgan Hill, CA · approx. location of bird strike
- Coordinates: 37.1917, -121.7238 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1917&lon=-121.7238&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 August 27, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203179
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA220
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203179/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203179
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA220

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/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 flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported that during a training flight, while performing maneuvers at 1,200 ft mean sea level, they observed a large bird to the right of the airplane. The pilot maneuvered to avoid the bird; however, the bird collided with the right wing, which resulted in substantial damage. Following the bird strike, the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and landed uneventfully.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55231](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55231), registered now, S/N 172S11414, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S11414
- Year built: 2014
- Airframe hours: 5148
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 7, 2026, 71.2 hours before
- Departed: RHV, San Jose, CA
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 2, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 543.3 total, 515.3 in this make and model, 450.8 as pilot in command, 96.1 in the last 90 days, 19.3 in the last 30 days, 3.9 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 13, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 263.4 total, 263.4 in this make and model, 171 as pilot in command, 52.7 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observed at: KE16, 3 nm away
- METAR: METAR KE16 112230Z AUTO 20011G16KT 8SM -RA CLR 31/13 A2980 RMK AO2

## 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 20260611005979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260611005979A), Jun 11, 2026: Cessna 172S, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. As the flight arrived in the practice area, one eights-on-pylons maneuver was completed before repositioning to new pylons slightly north of the aircraft’s…

## Other investigations on N55231 (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 WPR20LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA256), Aug 2, 2020: Cessna 172 (N55231), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s collision with a bird while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203179. 9.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1- flight instructor (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20638241&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1- pilot (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20642509&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 299 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20639325&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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.