No fatalities

11 Apr 2010: PIPER PA-24-180 — Middlefield, OH

Middlefield, OH, United States

On 11 Apr 2010, a PIPER PA-24-180 was involved in an aviation accident near Middlefield, OH. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The inadvertent in-flight collision with a bird. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported colliding with an eagle while descending through 2,700 feet. He diverted to a nearby airport and landed without incident. Postaccident inspection found substantial damage to the engine firewall and right cockpit windshield, consistent with a bird strike.

Accident Details

The pilot of an airplane reported that the aircraft struck an eagle during descent at an altitude of 2,700 feet. Following the collision, the pilot diverted to a nearby airport and executed an uneventful landing. No further abnormalities were noted during the approach or landing.

Damage Assessment

A postaccident inspection revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and the right cockpit windshield. The damaged areas exhibited deformation and cracking consistent with impact from a bird. The observed damage pattern was fully consistent with an in-flight collision with a bird, as reported by the pilot. No other damage was identified on the airframe or engine.

The inspection confirmed that the bird strike occurred during descent, and the aircraft sustained damage that necessitated repair before further flight. The pilot's prompt diversion to an alternate airport ensured a safe landing without additional complications.

Contributing factors

Effect on equipment