Dekalb Peachtree Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlanta, Georgia 30341
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was in cruise flight at 6,000 feet mean sea level when birds hit the top center section of the windscreen, shattered it, and entered the cockpit. The pilot declared an emergency and requested an instrument flight rules clearance back to his departure airport. The clearance was approved, and the airplane arrived at the departure airport without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the vertical stabilizer received substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An in-flight collision with birds during cruise flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/7/2012
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 45
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Atlanta
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30341
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 335233N
Event Location Longitude 0841807W
Event Location Airport Dekalb Peachtree Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PDK
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 53 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PDK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1003
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.52
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30134
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 30 2012 9:39PM
User who most recently changed record snyg
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4083Y
NTSB Number ERA12CA218
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 31-8152100
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 7 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours 18525
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name LABORATORY CORP OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 358 S MAIN ST
Aircraft Owner City BURLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27215-5837
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name LABORATORY CORP OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 358 S MAIN ST
Operator City BURLINGTON
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 27215-5837
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PDK
Departure City Atlanta
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 35
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BHM
Destination City Birmingham
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 10 2012 5:01PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --