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

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

No fatalities • Casper, WY, United States

Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a bird at low altitude.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot stated he was landing on runway 21 and was approximately 5 to 10 feet from touchdown when a large bird hit and broke the front center windshield of his airplane. With the bird covering his entire windscreen the pilot reacted by quickly moving his body to the right to avoid the bird, which had penetrated the windscreen. Subsequently the airplane's left wing came into contact with the runway surface causing the airplane to nose into the ground, severely damaging the left wing, collapsing the left landing gear, and bending both propellers. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

  • cause Effect on personnel

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 000/08kt, vis 10sm

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