FlightFinder
Check my flight
No fatalities

Night Bird Strike During Approach to Wilmington, Delaware (N2542L)

New Castle, DE, US

On April 3, 1994, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2542L) operated by Dawn Aeronautics was involved in an aviation accident near New Castle, DE. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Inadequate clearance from obstacles, which resulted in birds strike. A factor was night conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported a bird strike during a night straight-in approach to Wilmington, DE, causing electrical and engine power issues. The aircraft landed safely after damage to the battery case, firewall, and wings.

Incident Overview During a night straight-in approach to runway 14 at Wilmington, Delaware, an aircraft struck birds while descending through 1,800 feet MSL, approximately 7 miles from the airport. The pilot reported experiencing a loss of electrical power, yaw control problems, and a partial loss of engine power. Despite these issues, the pilot continued to the airport and landed. The engine began to lose power again about a mile from the airport. ## Damage Assessment Examination of the aircraft revealed that the battery case, firewall, and wings were damaged by the bird strike. Additionally, debris from the bird strike was found in the engine air inlet.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 3 Apr 1994 Piper PA-38-112 accident near New Castle, DE?

A pilot reported a bird strike during a night straight-in approach to Wilmington, DE, causing electrical and engine power issues. The aircraft landed safely after damage to the battery case, firewall, and wings.

Were there any fatalities in the 3 Apr 1994 Piper PA-38-112 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 3 Apr 1994 involved a Piper PA-38-112, registration N2542L, operated by Dawn Aeronautics, at New Castle, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Inadequate clearance from obstacles, which resulted in birds strike. A factor was night conditions.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X01042. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.