On November 23, 1985, a Piper PA-23-250 (registration N54236) was involved in an aviation accident near West Point, NY. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft returning to University Park Airport collided with two birds approximately 20 minutes into the flight, causing damage to the left wing tip and a portion of the wing section.
What happened
The aircraft was operating a return flight to University Park Airport after completing a passenger drop-off at Waterbury Oxford Airport. Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, the aircraft encountered a collision with two birds. The impact resulted in damage to the left wing tip and a portion of the left wing section located 3 1/2 inches inboard from the tip. Despite this structural damage, the pilot continued the flight to the intended destination and completed a landing without further incident.
The investigation
The primary finding from the examination of the event was the extent of the physical damage sustained during the bird strike. The left wing tip and an adjacent section of the wing were confirmed damaged. No other mechanical failures or issues were reported prior to the collision.