No fatalities

Bird Strike Incident During Final Approach

Put in Bay, OH, United States

On April 21, 2014, a PIPER PA 28-181 181 operated by Griffing Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Put in Bay, OH. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An inflight collision with a goose while on an approach. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 14 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft carrying four occupants collided with a goose during final approach. The pilot landed safely, but inspection revealed significant structural damage to the outer section of the right wing.

Incident Overview

A short cross-country flight involving one pilot and three passengers encountered an in-flight collision with wildlife while approaching the destination airport. The incident occurred specifically during the final approach phase of the flight.

Operational Outcome

Despite the impact, the pilot maintained control of the aircraft and executed a landing without further complications. The event was described as uneventful from an operational standpoint, allowing all occupants to disembark safely.

Post-Event Examination

Following the landing, a detailed inspection of the airframe was conducted. The examination identified substantial damage localized to the outer section of the right wing. No other specific mechanical failures or injuries were noted in the available records.

Contributing factors

Ability to respond/compensate