No fatalities

30 Jun 2011: PIPER PA-31-350 — FOWLER RICHARD L — Casper, WY

Casper, WY, United States

On 30 Jun 2011, a PIPER PA-31-350 operated by FOWLER RICHARD L was involved in an aviation accident near Casper, WY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An in-flight collision with a bird at low altitude. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported a bird strike broke the windscreen on final approach to runway 21. The pilot moved to avoid the bird, causing the left wing to contact the runway, resulting in substantial damage.

Incident Summary

During the landing approach, the pilot was preparing to touch down on runway 21. When the aircraft was approximately 5 to 10 feet above the runway, a large bird struck the front center windshield, shattering it. The bird then covered the entire windscreen, obstructing the pilot's view. In response, the pilot rapidly shifted his body to the right to avoid the bird, which had penetrated through the windscreen into the cockpit. This sudden movement caused the aircraft's left wing to contact the runway surface, resulting in the airplane nosing over into the ground.

Damage Assessment

The contact with the runway inflicted significant damage. The left wing was severely damaged, the left landing gear collapsed, and both propellers were bent. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation.

Contributing factors

Effect on personnel