NTSB ERA24LA306 — 2024-07-10 · Cochran, Georgia, United States

Current FAA registration · N268MG

Make / Model: PIPER PA-28-181
Year of manufacture: 2020 · 4 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING O-360-A4M (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20200601
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A29DCF

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N268MG Piper PA28 None

Probable cause & findings

The airplane’s impact with a bird resulting in substantial damage to the right wing.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern he saw two large birds. He stated “birds” to his student, took the controls, and attempted to avoid the birds. One of the birds impacted the leading edge of the right wing resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor subsequently landed the airplane without further incident. 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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_ERA24LA306.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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