N4579H

Substantial
Minor

PIPER PA-15S/N: 15-353

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, August 28, 2010
NTSB Number
WPR10CA434
Location
Duvall, WA
Event ID
20100829X10140
Coordinates
47.705276, -121.994720
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

An in-flight collision with a bird while maneuvering.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
15-353
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
PA-15PA15
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
PA-15

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
DAVIS RICK L
Address
4732 GLENHAVEN DR
City
EVERETT
State / Zip Code
WA 98203-1739
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that prior to taking off for a personal flight he added 6 gallons of fuel to the airplane. This was adequate for several hours of flying. Thereafter, he proceeded to practice maneuvers in the local area. According to the pilot, no mechanical malfunctions occurred during flight. After flying about 45 minutes and during a turn, a brown bird suddenly appeared in the upper right corner of the windshield. It collided with the airplane. A portion of the windshield broke out, and the pilot lost partial control. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude, and he made a forced landing in an open field. During rollout on uneven terrain the landing gear separated from the fuselage, which was bent.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR10CA434