Pilot Debrief

GRASSMAN TIMOTHY B RV-14A near Houston, TX — 2023-11-03

Final reportCEN24LA035
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Date
2023-11-03
Location
Houston, TX, USA
Airport
CXO
Aircraft
GRASSMAN TIMOTHY B RV-14A
Registration
N5875G
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The bird strike to the airplane’s vertical stabilizer during an approach for landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the personal flight stated that during a two mile final for landing at the destination airport, he encountered a group of four large birds. He pitched the airplane down to avoid striking one of the birds, but he did not have time to avoid them. The airplane struck one of the birds at an airspeed of 105 kts and at an altitude of 880 ft mean sea level. The bird, identified as a black vulture, remained draped around the vertical stabilizer, and there was some loss of stability about the vertical axis. The pilot still had positive control of the airplane, and he declared an emergency landing without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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