Undetermined · NTSB WPR13FA123
AVIONS FAIREY TIPSY NIPPER T-66 — Winters, CA
| Date | February 14, 2013 |
| Location | Winters, CA |
| Aircraft | AVIONS FAIREY TIPSY NIPPER T-66 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-cruise Birdstrike |
| Pilot age | 68 |
| Pilot total time | 8,000 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 20 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The airplane's impact with a turkey vulture in cruise flight, which resulted in the structural failure of the right wing and the subsequent loss of control.
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on equipment - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Wing structure-(general)-Failure - C
What happened
The airplane was in cruise flight about 2,000 feet above the ground when several witnesses reported hearing a loud "crack," "pop," or "snap" sound and then looking up and seeing something separate from the airplane and then pieces falling to the ground. The outboard 4 feet of the right wing was found about 2,000 feet away from the main wreckage, and a turkey vulture carcass was found near the wing section. Postaccident examinations of the wing section revealed blood spots and a downy barbule, which was identified as a fragment of a turkey vulture feather.