Probable cause
An in-flight collision with birds during cruise flight.
NTSB analysis
The airplane was in cruise flight at 6,000 feet mean sea level when birds hit the top center section of the windscreen, shattered it, and entered the cockpit. The pilot declared an emergency and requested an instrument flight rules clearance back to his departure airport. The clearance was approved, and the airplane arrived at the departure airport without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the vertical stabilizer received substantial damage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12CA218 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 7, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Nearest airport
- Dekalb Peachtree Airport (PDK)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night, dark
Piper PA-31-350
- N-number
- N4083Y
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Executive or corporate
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.