Cessna 172 N3HQ

Summary

On 31 October 2021 at about 21:54 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N3HQ was involved in an accident near Stevensville, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 October 2021 at 21:54

Classification

Accident

Location

Stevensville, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Bay Bridge (W29)

Coordinates

38.9790, -76.3472

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N3HQ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stevensville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ERA22LA044

1 person had minor injuries.

An in-flight collision with a bird during initial climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instructor reported that during the initial climb, about 100 ft above ground level, he observed three birds on his left side, and he banked the airplane right. The trailing bird turned into the airplane, contacted the propeller, continued through the windshield, and struck the instructor in the face. After regaining control of the airplane, the instructor landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windshield, and the instructor sustained minor injuries. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.