Incident Overview
A flight instructor and a student pilot were preparing for arrival at the destination airport at the conclusion of an instructional flight. While cruising at an altitude of 1,600 feet, they turned the airplane north and observed three buzzards ahead, below, and to the right of their airplane, which were climbing.
Evasive Maneuver
The pilots disconnected the autopilot and entered a climbing left turn in an attempt to avoid the group of birds. During the maneuver, they successfully avoided two of the birds. However, the remaining bird suddenly changed direction and impacted the right wing.
Damage and Aftermath
The impact resulted in substantial damage to the composite structure of the right wing. After the collision, the pilots advised air traffic control of the encounter. They then landed the airplane uneventfully at a nearby airport.