PIPER PA-28-161
Princeton, MN — September 13, 2013
Event Information
| Date | September 13, 2013 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN13CA550 |
| Event ID | 20130916X53345 |
| Location | Princeton, MN |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 45.56000, -93.60833 |
| Airport | Princeton Municipal Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA-28-161 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
An in-flight collision with a bald eagle.
Full Narrative
The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was flying S-turns over a road at 1,000 feet above ground level when a bald eagle struck the right horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor took the controls, declared an emergency, and proceeded to land at the nearest airport. The control yoke was “buffeting,” but the engine continued to run smoothly. On final approach, the flight instructor noticed that the rudder controls were impaired; however, the wind was calm so the landing was without incident. The examination of the airplane revealed that there was a large indentation on the right horizontal stabilizer with bird feathers embedded in it. The right side of the horizontal stabilizer was canted. In addition, the tail cone had been pushed upward and was in contact with the rudder, impeding its movement.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.