Probable cause
A in-flight collision with a bird during the descent for landing.
NTSB analysis
The airplane was about 4 miles from the destination airport in a descent to land when the airplane struck a bird. The pilot landed the airplane without incident and substantial damage was found to the right wing. Remains from the birds were submitted to the Smithsonian Institute and were found to belong to a black vulture (coragyps atratus). The average weight of a black vulture is reported to be between 3.5 and 6.6 lbs. Data archived by birdcast.info, showed bird activity at the time of the accident was between medium and high. In addition, data from usahas.com, the U.S. Air Force avian hazard advisory system, showed that the bird strike risk was severe near the collision area.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA362 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 3, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- New Braunfels, Texas
- Nearest airport
- (BAZ)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 414
- N-number
- N39HC
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1973
- 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.