N4599X – Piper PA32 – 2019-04-19 NTSB Accident Report

On April 19, 2019, a Piper PA32 (N4599X) was involved in an incident near Saipan, USA. All 4 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The airplane’s collision with a bird during the initial climb, which resulted in the engine cowling separating and impacting the empennage.

The operator reported that, during the initial climb, about 1,500 ft, the pilot and passengers reported hearing and feeling an impact. The upper left engine cowling separated and struck the windshield. The pilot declared an emergency, returned to the departure airport, and landed without further incident

Postaccident examination revealed traces of blood on the propeller, left wing leading edge, and the vertical stabilizer leading edge. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage, which was consistent with impact damage from the separated engine cowling.

The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA268. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4599X.