Probable cause
An inflight collision with a bird.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that while enroute to his destination, a large bird impacted the airplane’s left wing, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure. The pilot declared an emergency and landed the airplane uneventfully at the closest airport.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN23LA207 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 23, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
American AA-5
- N-number
- N1972G
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1972
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.