Event BFO88FA047

Factual narrative

THE PLT WAS DOING LOW PASSES DOWN RWY 04 WHEN ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE STRUCK A LARGE BIRD AFTER THE SECOND PASS JUST WHEN HE WAS STARTING TO CLIMB ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE FROM THE RWY END. THE PLT SAID THAT THE BIRD SHATTERED THE WINDSCREEN CAUSING THE PLT FACIAL INJURIES AND THE DISLODGING OF HIS EYEGLASSES. THE PLT TURNED BACK TO LAND ON RWY 22; HOWEVER, HE MISTAKENLY ALIGNED THE ACFT WITH RWY 19. HE STRUCK A TREE SHORT OF THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ON A COURSE ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY. DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE BOTH ENGINES SEPARATED AND DAMAGED 2 PARKED ACFT AND 3 PARKED CARS. A WITNESS SAID THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE ABOUT ONE HALF MILE FROM THE AIRPORT BEFORE IT TURNED BACK TO THE AIRPORT TO LAND. THE ACFT AND A GROUND SEARCH DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF A BIRD STRIKE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12