What happened
On August 14, 2012, at approximately 19:50 UTC, a Cessna 172M, registration PT-KCS, was conducting a ferry flight from Nova Venécia to Caratinga, Minas Gerais. While cruising at 1,000 feet, the aircraft collided with a yellow-headed vulture (*Cathartes burrovianus*) on the left side of the windshield. The impact shattered the windshield, allowing the bird to penetrate the cockpit and strike the pilot in the face.
Following the impact, the pilot experienced intense vibrations and noise within the cockpit. Due to the compromised windshield and the physical impact, the pilot opted to perform an emergency landing in a nearby sugarcane plantation. The aircraft struck the ground heavily, causing it to rotate on its transverse axis and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot, who sustained minor injuries to the face, was able to evacuate the aircraft on his own. There was no post-crash fire, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The CENIPA investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the aircraft's certification standards. Investigators identified the species of bird through photographic evidence taken at the scene. The analysis noted that the flight path passed near a composting site, which attracts various vulture species.
Investigators also examined the lighting conditions, noting that the aircraft was flying westward near sunset. The sun's position caused significant glare on the windshield, which likely hindered the pilot's ability to detect the bird. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the certification requirements for the Cessna 172M, noting that as a normal category aircraft under RBAC 23, it was not required to meet specific windshield bird-strike resistance standards.
Findings
- The flight altitude of 1,000 feet contributed to the collision, as the chosen altitude placed the aircraft within a high-risk zone for bird strikes.
- The pilot was flying toward the setting sun, and solar glare on the windshield likely prevented timely evasive maneuvers.
- The aircraft's certification did not include specific requirements for windshield resistance against bird impacts.
- Environmental factors, including the presence of vultures utilizing thermal currents and the proximity to a waste site, increased the probability of the encounter.
- Flight planning contributed to the occurrence by not accounting for the increased risk of wildlife interaction at low altitudes during twilight hours.