Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brooksville, Florida 34604
Sunday, May 11, 2003 16:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that after takeoff he performed airwork for approximately 1 hour then proceeded direct to the Hernando County Airport where he performed 2 or 3 practice instrument approaches. During climb out at 2,000 feet between 110 and 120 knots following another practice instrument approach, he noted a large bird fly past the windshield. He then felt an impact but there was no discrepancy with the flight controls. As the flight lesson was nearly complete, the flight proceeded to the departure airport where the airplane was landed uneventfully. The airplane was secured, then visually inspected which revealed a dent in the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer. He remained overnight at the airport, then departed the following day for an airport located along the east coast of Florida. The safety pilot reported that she was flying with the pilot to complete his annual recurrent training and after the initial departure proceeded to the Hernando County Airport to practice instrument approaches. The pilot-in-command had been holding at the published holding intersection (AZBOG), departed the holding pattern, began climbing, and while flying at 2,500 feet mean sea level and 120 knots indicated airspeed, collided with a bird. No effect on flight controls was noted and the flight proceeded to the initial departure airport where after landing, the external damage was noted. Examination of the airplane revealed the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer was crushed up near left butt line 38.177. Inspection revealed that canted frame assembly (p/n 84246-800), located at fuselage station 311.382, was torn adjacent to the forward attach bolt of the left horizontal stabilizer. Additionally, an angle (p/n 84218-2), which is riveted to and part of the canted frame assembly exhibited a section missing below and outboard of the forward attach bolt of the left horizontal stabilizer. Evidence of displacement between the forward attach bolt of the left horizontal stabilizer and the canted frame assembly was noted. Personnel from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History identified the bird to be the Black Vulture (Coryagyps atratus), which has a weight range between 42-75 ounces.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The in-flight collision with a Black Vulture resulting in substantial damage.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/11/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Brooksville
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34604
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 282825N
Event Location Longitude 0822720W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KBKV
Elevation of weather observation facility 77
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15347
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date May 27 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Tampa, Florida

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7KH
NTSB Number MIA03LA115
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-46-350P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4636176
Certified Max Gross Weight 4318
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 27 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18.8
Airframe Hours 603
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Libery Oil And Refining Association, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 910 Avenue North, Northwest
Aircraft Owner City Childress
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79201
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Kermitt L. Waters
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 704 South 9th Street
Operator City Las Vegas
Operator State NV
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 89101
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KPIE
Departure City St. Petersburg
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2004 8:45AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --