N4915F – CESSNA 172S – 2009-04-04 NTSB Accident Report

On April 04, 2009, a Cessna 172S (N4915F) was involved in an incident near Snohomish, WA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: An in-flight collision with a crow.

The student pilot was returning from the practice area on a supervised solo. He was on the downwind leg for landing at 1,500 feet when he saw a crow rising from below on the airplane's left side. He heard a large thud, and felt the airplane buffet. The student pilot looked to verify that no other airplanes were in the vicinity, and checked the elevator and rudder visually. He verified that by crabbing the airplane using the rudder and adding power, the airplane was controllable, and could be landed safely. Three outboard ribs of the left wing and the spar sustained substantial damage; the top and bottom skins were wrinkled from the leading edge to the spar.

This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR09CA182. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4915F.