Probable cause
An in-flight collision with a bird at low altitude.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated he was landing and was approximately 5 to 10 feet from touchdown when a large bird hit and broke the front center windshield of his airplane. With the bird covering his entire windscreen the pilot reacted by quickly moving his body to the right to avoid the bird, which had penetrated the windscreen. Subsequently the airplane's left wing came into contact with the runway surface causing the airplane to nose into the ground, severely damaging the left wing, collapsing the left landing gear, and bending both propellers. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR11CA299 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 30, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Casper, Wyoming
- Nearest airport
- Casper/Natrona County (KCPR)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dawn
Piper PA-31-350
- N-number
- N59798
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 135 (charter and commuter)
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.