Summary
On November 20, 2017, a Cessna 172N (N172SX) was involved in an incident near San Diego, CA. 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 bird.
The pilot reported that, about two miles from his destination, he made a left turn to enter the downwind leg for landing when a bird came out of the sun. The pilot made a hard right turn to avoid the bird from coming through the windscreen. The bird subsequently collided with the leading edge of the left wing. The pilot continued to his intended destination without further incident.
A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA063. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N172SX.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
An in-flight collision with a bird.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that, about two miles from his destination, he made a left turn to enter the downwind leg for landing when a bird came out of the sun. The pilot made a hard right turn to avoid the bird from coming through the windscreen. The bird subsequently collided with the leading edge of the left wing. The pilot continued to his intended destination without further incident.
A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA063