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ERA24LA249

2024-05-22 · Vero Beach, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport VRB

Current FAA registration · N6232H

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-161
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19771117
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A82408

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

An in-flight collision with a bird while on approach.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that, while in the airport traffic pattern and turning from the downwind leg to the base leg, a bird impacted the leading edge of the left wing, which resulted?in substantial damage. The pilot receiving instruction continued to fly the approach, and landed on the intended runway without further issue. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on equipment
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Ability to respond/compensate

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_ERA24LA249.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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