Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 414 near New Braunfels, TX — 2025-09-03

Final reportCEN25LA362
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Date
2025-09-03
Location
New Braunfels, TX, USA
Airport
BAZ
Aircraft
CESSNA 414
Registration
N39HC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A in-flight collision with a bird during the descent for landing.

NTSB narrative

The airplane was about 4 miles from the destination airport in a descent to land when the airplane struck a bird. The pilot landed the airplane without incident and substantial damage was found to the right wing. Remains from the birds were submitted to the Smithsonian Institute and were found to belong to a black vulture (coragyps atratus). The average weight of a black vulture is reported to be between 3.5 and 6.6 lbs. Data archived by birdcast.info, showed bird activity at the time of the accident was between medium and high. In addition, data from usahas.com, the U.S. Air Force avian hazard advisory system, showed that the bird strike risk was severe near the collision area.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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