What happened
The pilot was operating the aircraft at an altitude of 2,500 feet above sea level. Prior to the incident, he had observed flocks of geese in the vicinity two to three days earlier, but no birds were visible on the day of the flight. During cruise flight, a distinct thud was heard inside the cockpit. Shortly after, a goose feather was expelled from the fresh air vent.
The pilot looked out through the windshield and identified damage to the wing where the bird had struck. Despite the impact, the pilot landed without further incident.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed bird strike damage to the wing structure. No other mechanical anomalies were reported prior to the event.