Accident Overview
On December 18, 2019, at approximately 13:48 Japan Standard Time, a Cessna 172P (registration JA3962) collided with a bird shortly after takeoff from Ryugasaki Airfield in Ibaraki Prefecture. The aircraft was conducting touch-and-go training with a trainee in the left seat and a captain (flight instructor) in the right seat. A passenger was also on board. No injuries were reported among the three occupants.
Flight History
The aircraft departed at 12:22 for a training flight, with the trainee at the controls. After completing maneuvers in the training area, the aircraft returned to Ryugasaki Airfield for touch-and-go practice. During the takeoff phase of the second touch-and-go, a bird suddenly appeared from the left diagonal downward direction and struck the left wing leading edge. The captain reported an airspeed of approximately 60 knots and an altitude of 50 feet or less at the moment of collision. The trainee had no time to avoid the bird. The captain then took over control and landed the aircraft at 13:52.
Aircraft Damage
The collision caused substantial damage to the aircraft, classified as equivalent to major repair. The left wing leading edge sustained a dent measuring approximately 14 cm longitudinally, 50 cm in width, and 4 cm in depth. The outer skin was deformed, and the underlying rib of the left wing leading edge was also deformed.
Bird Strike Information
The bird involved was a falcon, approximately 50 cm in length and weighing about 1 kg. It was found dead on the runway about 80 meters ahead of the collision point. Neither the captain nor the trainee had sighted the bird during the first touch-and-go.
Weather Conditions
According to the captain, the weather at the airfield at the time of the accident featured a fair sky, weak winds from 290° to 300°, and visibility of 10 kilometers or more.
Bird Strike Preventive Measures
The airfield employed bird sweeps using a vehicle horn when birds were sighted near the runway as a preventive measure against bird strikes.
Analysis
The investigation confirmed that the aircraft collided with a bird immediately after takeoff during touch-and-go training, resulting in structural damage. The trainee likely noticed the bird approaching from the left diagonal downward direction but had insufficient time to avoid the collision.
Probable Cause
The Japan Transport Safety Board determined that the damage to the aircraft was caused by the collision with a bird immediately after takeoff.