Probable cause
An inflight collision with a bird during cruise flight.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor stated that, while in cruise flight at an altitude of 2,500 feet, he observed two large birds directly ahead of the airplane. He assumed control of the airplane from the student pilot and attempted to maneuver around them, but one of the birds impacted the left wing, resulting in substantial damage. After observing no flight control anomalies, the flight instructor elected to continue to the destination airport, where he landed the airplane without incident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA14CA001 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 14, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Christmas, Florida
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172P
- N-number
- N65704
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1982
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
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.