Pilot Debrief

Piper PA23 near Tampa, FL — 2019-03-24

Final reportGAA19CA180
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Date
2019-03-24
Location
Tampa, FL, USA
Airport
TPA
Aircraft
Piper PA23
Registration
N976AZ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird during the approach, which resulted in damage to the vertical stabilizer.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that, on a descending vector for a visual instrument landing system approach on an instrument flight rules flight plan, about 2,500 to 2,800 ft mean sea level, he "felt the aircraft shudder along with a loud bang." He then disengaged the autopilot to determine if the flight controls were affected and looked for damage on the wing and nose area; he saw no damage. The pilot continued to the airport and landed without further incident. During the landing, the pilot of a waiting aircraft reported that he saw damage to the accident airplane's vertical stabilizer that looked like a bird had hit it. During postaccident examination, blood and tissue were found on the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents2

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