Incident Overview
On the day of the incident, a certified flight instructor (CFI) and her student planned to conduct a series of takeoffs and landings at the airport. The first takeoff occurred at about 1410, and the CFI requested and received an air traffic clearance to remain in the traffic pattern. The airplane's anti-collision light was operating. At the time, the lowest cloud layer was about 2,800 feet above ground level, visibility was 25 miles, and light turbulence was present in the area.
After completing three touch-and-go landings, at about 1430, the air traffic controller requested that the pilot fly an extended downwind leg. The CFI stated that shortly thereafter, they noticed a red-tail hawk slightly ahead and at the same altitude. Upon sighting the bird, the CFI immediately took control from the student and initiated a climbing turn to the left. A few seconds later, they heard a loud impact on the right wing tip. The CFI immediately looked out the window and noticed extensive damage to the wing. She landed the airplane without further incident and did not detect any noticeable effect on the airplane's performance during the approach.
Damage Assessment
The flight school's director of maintenance reported that the outboard span of the leading edge wing skin, immediately inboard of the wing tip, was crushed about 8 inches in an aft direction. In this area, an outer wing rib was cracked, and two ribs were bent. The span of the deformation was almost 3 feet. A major structural airframe repair was required to fix the damaged wing.
No residue of the impacted bird was found. Several photographs of the damage were provided to the National Transportation Safety Board by the airplane rental company, Golden State Flying Club, based in El Cajon, California.