Probable cause
An inflight collision with a bird.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot receiving instruction, he had initiated the upwind-to-crosswind turn in the airport traffic pattern. With the left wing raised in the right turn, a bird came into the pilot’s view and struck the left wing before the pilot could initiate an evasive maneuver. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, completed the traffic pattern and the landing without injury to the occupants or damage beyond that resulting from the bird strike. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing was substantially damaged.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA23LA303 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 24, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Macon, Georgia
- Nearest airport
- Macon Downtown (MAC)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28R-201
- N-number
- N285MG
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2017
- 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.