NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA16CA095
Registry · N2135B
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-161
Year of manufacture
1978 · 37 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19781005
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A1C7B0
Registrant of record
MILOUD CHADD K
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
An inadvertent collision with a bird while on downwind in the airport pattern.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that while in the left downwind, a bird impacted the right leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor further reported that he landed without further incident. A post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the stabilator. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that while in the left downwind, a bird impacted the right leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor further reported that he landed without further incident. A post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the stabilator. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on equipment - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2015_GAA16CA095.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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