What happened
On May 25, 2005, a Beechcraft Bonanza A-36-AT, registration PH-BWA, departed Jerez Airport for a dual IFR training flight. The aircraft was operated by KLM Flight Academy and carried a student pilot, a flight instructor, and one passenger. The mission was a Student Pilot in Command (SPIC) training flight, where the student was performing technical tasks such as tight turns and climbs.
While maneuvering near point ECHO at approximately 2,000 feet, the student pilot initiated a rate one turn to the right. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck a bird on the front right side. The impact was significant enough to break the windscreen and cause damage to the control panel, firewall, right door, fuselage, and elevator. The flight instructor, who was acting as the safety pilot, bore the brunt of the impact, sustaining facial cuts and thoracic bruises.
Despite the impact, the instructor successfully maintained control of the aircraft and returned to Jerez Airport, landing safely at 16:05 local time.
The investigation
Investigators identified the bird as an adult stork, based on feathers found inside the cockpit. The investigation established that the incident occurred outside the Jerez Control Zone (CTR). While Jerez is a known area for stork nesting and concentration, the specific bird involved did not originate from the nests immediately surrounding the airfield.
Technical analysis of the flight revealed that the student pilot's windscreen was covered by an IFR screen as part of the training procedure. The investigation also noted that the crew did not explicitly mention performing a visual check for obstacles prior to initiating the turn.
Findings
- The collision was an accidental occurrence involving a bird flying outside of established migration corridors.
- The aircraft sustained minor structural damage, including a broken windscreen and damage to the right side of the airframe.
- The flight instructor sustained serious injuries (later downgraded to minor wounds) due to the physical impact of the bird.
- The bird strike occurred during a coordinated turn while the student pilot was performing IFR training maneuvers.
- Storks in the region are known to use thermal currents for gliding, often during the warmest parts of the day, which increases the risk of encounters at lower altitudes.