Piper PA-44-180 N767PA

Summary

On 26 August 2023 at about 17:42 local time, a Piper PA-44-180 registered N767PA, operated by Purdue Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near West Lafayette, Indiana, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 August 2023 at 17:42

Classification

Accident

Location

West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Purdue University (LAF)

Coordinates

40.4123, -86.9362

Aircraft

Piper PA-44-180

Registration

N767PA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2002

Engines

2

Operator

Purdue Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lafayette → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA384

Nobody was injured.

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 flight instructor reported that during the initial climb, about 600 ft above ground level, his student observed a bird under the nose of the airplane. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and maneuvered the airplane in an attempt to avoid the bird. The bird went over the top of the airplane and struck the vertical stabilizer, which resulted in substantial damage. The flight instructor landed the airplane without further incident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.