LAX07CA224

Factual narrative

On July 20, 2007, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N531M, collided with terrain following a bird strike near Woodland, California. Atkin Air LLC was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) sustained minor injuries, and the student pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local area instructional flight departed the Watts-Woodland Airport, Woodland, about 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. The CFI stated in a written report that the flight was conducted in preparation for the student pilot's upcoming checkride. On downwind for landing at the Woodland-Watts Airport, and with the student pilot at the controls, a bird impacted the passenger side of the windshield. The windshield collapsed and fragments struck the CFI in the face. The student pilot continued to fly the airplane, but was unable to maintain air speed or altitude, so the CFI took the controls. The CFI applied full power and turned the airplane towards the runway threshold, but was unable to maintain altitude. Unable to make the airport, the CFI warned the student that they were "going in" and asked that he call out the air speed due to his vision being obstructed by blood in his eyes. The CFI stated that just prior to touchdown he turned the fuel selector switch to the OFF position, and pulled the throttle back to idle. He called for the student pilot to apply full flaps, but before the flaps could be extended the airplane landed in a tomato field. Just after touchdown the nose wheel caught a ploughed furrow, and the airplane nosed over. The CFI then turned off the master and ignition switch, both pilots then exited the airplane. The CFI reported that the field had been recently plowed, and the furrows were deep with moist soil and 2-foot-high tomato plants. A bird resembling a hawk was later found in the rear of the airplane. The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a plowed field following a bird strike to the windshield. While on the downwind leg for landing, a bird struck the passenger side portion of the airplane's windshield. The windshield fragmented and collapsed inward, injuring the flight instructor. The student pilot was not able to maintain the airplane's airspeed or altitude due to the increased drag caused by the missing windshield, so the instructor took over the controls. The instructor's vision was impaired due to blood in his eyes, and he applied full power and turned the airplane towards the runway threshold; however, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The instructor made a forced landing in a tomato field perpendicular to the furrows and the airplane nosed over. The remains of a large hawk were found in the back of the cockpit. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12