Incident Overview
On 14 August 2021 at approximately 11:12 local time (17:12 UTC), a Cessna U206G aircraft, registration TI-GER, experienced a serious incident while on a local circuit flight near the Tobías Bolaños Palma International Airport (MRPV) in Pavas, San José, Costa Rica. The aircraft was in the final phase of its base leg transitioning to the final approach for Runway 09 when it struck a raptor. The bird impacted the windshield, breaking through and entering the cockpit and cabin, where it struck the occupants. The pilot requested priority landing from air traffic control and executed an emergency landing without further event. No fire occurred.
Aircraft and Occupant Information
The aircraft was a Cessna Textron U206G, serial number U20603908, powered by a Continental IO-520 F43B piston engine. It was operated commercially by AERO CARIBE S.A. On board were one pilot and five passengers, all of Costa Rican nationality. The pilot, a 24-year-old male, held a commercial pilot license. All occupants received medical assistance at the airport and were subsequently transferred to medical centers; three were categorized as green condition and three as yellow condition.
Event Details
The bird strike occurred in daylight under visual flight rules (VFR). The raptor entered the aircraft alive and caused blood to spread throughout the cabin. The aircraft sustained minor damage, including to the windshield, the rear right door window, and various parts of the internal structure. There were no indications of structural damage. The bird remained inside the aircraft after landing.
Damage and Response
After the incident, the pilot landed the aircraft normally. Emergency services provided medical attention at the airport. The aircraft's damage was limited to minor components. The investigation has focused on environmental factors, including meteorological conditions, bird hazard conditions within the airspace of MRPV, and potential improvements for bird mitigation around the terminal.
Investigation Status
As of the provisional declaration dated 14 August 2022, the investigation is 95% complete. The draft final report has been finished and is pending review by the Investigator in Charge (IIC). Once reviewed and approved by the Civil Aviation Technical Council (CETAC), it will be circulated to involved authorities for comments before public release.