Incident Overview
A pilot conducting a discovery flight with a new student reported that a turkey buzzard struck the airplane's right wing shortly after departing from Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida. The pilot stated that the impact occurred after exiting Class C airspace while initiating a climb.
Aircraft Damage and Control Issues
The bird strike caused damage to the right wing, which resulted in the airplane turning to the right and severely limiting the pilot's ability to maintain control. According to the pilot, the airplane entered a descending right spiral. The pilot was able to recover from the spiral and proceeded to make a forced landing in a nearby field.
Landing and Aftermath
During the forced landing, the nose wheel dug into the ground and separated, bringing the airplane to a stop. The pilot reported that prior to the buzzard strike, there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or any of its systems.