Piper PA-46-310P N62VM accident near Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Probable cause

The bird strike during cruise flight that resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the personal flight reported that he was enroute to his destination airport when he began a 500 fpm rate descent to 3,000 ft msl. While descending through 4,100 ft msl, a bald eagle, that was above the airplane’s flight path descended at about a 40o angle and struck the airplane’s left wing. The airplane continued to without any appreciable change to its performance and the pilot continued to the destination airport. For the approach, the pilot extended the landing gear, extended the wing flaps to 10o, and slowed the airplane to 105-110 kts for level flight at 3,000 ft msl. On final approach, the pilot flew the airplane at 85-90 kts and landed uneventfully with 30o of wing flaps. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA372 for the full record.