The pilot was in the pattern at the airport in Roseburg, Oregon, performing touch-and-go landings.
During a left descending turn from downwind to base, about 10 large birds came into view below the Cessna 172’s nose. He recalled that they appeared quickly and that he was unable to take evasive action.
He heard and felt a strike, followed by “an appreciable drag on the left side.”
He also saw visible damage to the left wing.
He landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing ribs and leading edge.
Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird during the approach.
NTSB Identification: GAA17CA373
This June 2017 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
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Richard says
June 15, 2019 at 9:20 amI thought I was reading an article in the main stream media by some jerk reporter who knows nothing about flying. I hope one of them don’t pick this story up and help blacken the eye of “little planes” with the general public even more.
Richard says
June 15, 2019 at 9:22 amDOESN’T, not don’t.
Pete Williams says
June 15, 2019 at 6:45 amThe fact is the bird strike DID NOT bring down a 172. The pilot landed without further incident. NOT necessary to sensationalize an incident.
I diot says
June 14, 2019 at 10:00 pmClearly all of you who have written previous comments are still missing the point. The incident was from 2 years ago, this is highly irrelevant and somehow no one pointed it out. Data and date people. Get with it. Why was this even written a few days ago?
JimH in CA says
June 16, 2019 at 8:11 pmMost of us who are pilots know that the NTSB final reports take about a year to be completed and released. Some take longer.
The report and the comments are important ‘learning’ for us, so that we might have a good outcome if situations like this happens to one of us.
The news media picks up the story the day it happens so no worries on our discussions.
D. Wayne Otto says
June 14, 2019 at 2:41 pmWow! Everyone is an editor all of a sudden.
JOHN H ONEILL JR says
June 14, 2019 at 2:12 pmI do not appreciate clickbait headlines.
Eric B Johnson says
June 14, 2019 at 11:28 amPoorly titled article.
Important information to share but how did this story ever get past the editor.
Sad to see the “fake news” habits creeping into General Aviation News.
Darrell B Hay says
June 14, 2019 at 9:40 amThere’s five minutes I won’t get back. I thought it was a horrible crash. No big deal. Needless sensationalism
Gbenga Amedrovi says
June 14, 2019 at 9:29 amPlease change this title….very misleading understanding what “down” could mean and the grim picture it paints.
JimH in CA says
June 14, 2019 at 8:54 amWow..! you guys are tough on this GA news article.!
I agree that the title could have read ‘Bird strike does severe damage to a C172’.
However, bird encounters are very common here in the Sacramento area . I friend had a bird strike through the right side of the windscreen… The aircraft would not maintain altitude with the high drag of a blown out windscreen. He landed off airport ok, and the interior was red with feathers.
Birds will usually dive when they get too close to a aircraft. so, the pilot should make a climbing turn away from the birds. If you hit one, it may be the belly or underside of the wing, doing much less damage.
gbigs says
June 14, 2019 at 6:28 amLighten up..the headline is fine. The plane was forced down…he just happened to be landing at the time already. You think he could have stayed in the air with a damaged wing? Of course not.
Mike Crognale says
June 14, 2019 at 6:28 amand in the category of “Made you look”…..this crap drives me nuts. As if GA didn’t already have a bad enough image in the public mind, this sort of sensationalism just reinforces that. Shame on GA News for such stupidity.
Lee Rallis says
June 14, 2019 at 1:42 amWen I saw this story I immediately thought the worse picturing a horrible crash site, fearing the worse 4 the pilot & any passengers they may hav been on board. Though I am relieved by the safe outcome I feel the writer of this story must hav alterior motives to post such a reckless headline.
64Wing says
June 13, 2019 at 11:27 am“Bird strike brings down Cessna 172” … “He landed the airplane without further incident.”
Gee, sensationalized clickbait much? Amateurish journalism