A C172 TRAINING FLT'S CURRICULUM IS CUT SHORT AFTER THE CRAFT SUFFERS A BIRD STRIKE ON THE TAIL 2 NM SE OF MGJ; NY; LEADING THE INSTRUCTOR PLT TO RETURN TO HIS HOME BASE AT N07; NJ.

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MY STUDENT WAS FLYING A PRACTICE ILS RWY 3 APCH AT MGJ AND AT ABOUT 800 FT MSL I SAW A LARGE BIRD AT THE R FRONT CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT LOOKED LIKE AN EAGLE OR HAWK. I TOOK CTL AND BANKED HARD TO THE L. THE BIRD STRUCK THE R HORIZ STABILIZER DENTING THE LEADING EDGE. THE PLANE FLEW NORMALLY AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ELEVATOR. I DECIDED TO RETURN TO OUR HOME BASE OF N07 DUE TO THE NORMAL OP OF THE PLANE. THE PLANE PERFORMED NORMALLY AND WE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE STABILIZER; IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I NOTIFIED THE NTSB BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO BE RPTABLE BECAUSE OF THE REPLACEMENT NEEDED. I DON'T THINK MUCH CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE. MAINTAINING A GOOD SCAN FOR TFC DOESN'T ALWAYS ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO SEE A BIRD AND REACT BECAUSE OF THEIR SMALL SIZE RELATIVE TO THE PLANE. ALSO; SEEING A SMALL DENT ON THE LEADING EDGE FROM THE COCKPIT DID NOT SHOW THE TRUE DAMAGE A BIRD CAN CAUSE AND I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ELECTED TO LAND AT MGJ IF I SAW THE RIPPLED SKIN UNDER THE STABILIZER. HOWEVER; FROM THE COCKPIT IT LOOKED MINOR AND THE PLANE BEHAVING NORMALLY REINFORCED MY DECISION TO RETURN TO MY HOME BASE.