What happened
On the morning of 12 January 2022, a Cessna 182P aircraft, registered as ZS-IWG, departed from Port Elizabeth International Airport (FAPE) in the Eastern Cape. The flight, which was being conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for Part 141 training purposes, was headed toward Uitenhage Aerodrome for a planned precautionary landing exercise.
While cruising at an altitude of approximately 900 feet above ground level, the crew observed a bird flying in close proximity to the aircraft. Shortly after this sighting, a loud impact was heard. The flight instructor immediately assumed control of the aircraft to verify that all flight controls remained functional. Following the impact, the decision was made to abort the training mission and return to Port Elizabeth International Airport. The return flight proceeded without further incident, and the aircraft landed safely. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries during the event.
The investigation
The investigation into the occurrence was based on information provided by the involved parties. Upon returning to the airport, a post-flight inspection was performed by the flight instructor. This inspection revealed that a bird strike had occurred, specifically impacting the vertical stabilizer. The force of the impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft component.