On 11 May 2013, a PIPER PA-44-180T operated by 424 Aviation Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Loxahatchee, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An in-flight collision with a bird. This summary draws on records from NTSB.
A pilot successfully diverted and landed an aircraft after a large bird struck the horizontal stabilizer during flight.
What happened
On May 11, 2013, a PIPER PA-44-180T, registration N8390K, was en route to its destination at an altitude of 1,700 feet MSL. During the flight, a large bird collided with the right horizontal stabilizer, causing substantial damage to the aircraft component.
Following the strike, the pilot declared an emergency and diverted the aircraft. The flight concluded with a landing at a nearby airport without further incident. There were no injuries resulting from the event. Weather conditions at the time were VMC with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 160 degrees at 14 knots.