What happened
On February 26, 2000, a Piper PA-28-181, registration EC-DBU, was performing a local pleasure flight departing from Pamplona Airport under visual meteorological conditions. The weather was reported as CAVOK with calm winds and a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. The aircraft was carrying four occupants, including the pilot.
During the climb, while maintaining an altitude of 3,500 feet and a speed of approximately 80 knots, the pilot identified a vulture approaching from the right side of the aircraft. The pilot attempted an evasive maneuver by banking to the left; however, the maneuver was insufficient to prevent a collision. The bird struck the right wing of the aircraft. Following the impact, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport, landing safely without further incident.
As a result of the strike, the aircraft sustained minor damage to the leading edge and the wing margin of the right wing, which extended to the internal structure.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances of the strike and the local environmental context. Investigators noted that the population of Griffon vultures (*Gyps fulvus*) in the Iberian Peninsula had significantly increased over the preceding decade. In the region of Navarra, the population was estimated at approximately 1,000 breeding pairs distributed across 63 colonies.
Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the visibility challenges inherent in detecting large birds when they approach from the side rather than head-on. The analysis also referenced the Spanish AIP (Aeronautical Information Publication) regarding known migratory routes and bird concentration areas.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the collision with a vulture that appeared on the right side of the aircraft.
- The pilot's ability to detect the bird was compromised because the bird's approach was not frontal, making it difficult to spot from the cockpit until it was in close proximity.
- The evasive maneuver performed by the pilot was not completed in time to avoid the impact.
- The high density of vulture populations in the Navarra region increases the risk of such occurrences.