Introduction
On December 10, 2022, a Cessna 172R aircraft, registration JA123R, operated by Okayama Air Service Co., Ltd., sustained damage after a bird strike during a landing approach to Kohnan Aerodrome in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The aircraft had four occupants—a captain and three passengers—none of whom were injured.
Event Details
The aircraft departed from Kohnan Aerodrome at 17:30 Japan Standard Time for a sightseeing flight. After approximately 10 minutes of flight over Okayama City, the crew initiated an approach to Runway 09 via the north side traffic pattern. While on the final approach, at an altitude of about 150 feet (45 meters) and approximately 0.5 nautical miles (900 meters) from the runway threshold, with an airspeed of about 65 knots, a flock of white birds appeared momentarily within the illuminated range of the landing light. The captain immediately heard a banging sound consistent with a collision and felt the aircraft strike something. The aircraft continued the approach without flight control anomalies and landed at 17:45.
Damage
Post-landing inspection revealed dents and bloodstains on the leading edge of the left wing. The damage included a deformation of the leading edge skin measuring approximately 15 centimeters long, 155 centimeters wide, and 7 centimeters deep, as well as deformation of the underlying ribs. The aircraft was classified as substantially damaged.
Investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) investigated the accident. The carcass of the bird was not found during runway inspections, and the bloodstains were washed away before sampling, preventing identification of the bird species. The airport area includes Abeike Pond and Lake Kojima, which are landing zones for migratory birds.
Probable Cause
According to the JTSB, the probable cause of the accident was that the aircraft most likely sustained damage due to a bird strike during the landing approach. The species of the bird could not be determined because the bloodstains were not collected.
Safety Actions
Following the accident, Okayama Air Service informed personnel about proper preservation of bird remains and bloodstains. The operator continues existing bird strike prevention measures, including regular bird sweeps, pyrotechnics, and, during July to October, lethal control.