Nanchang CJ6 accident near Windsor, Colorado, May 25, 2023
On May 25, 2023 at about 6:24 pm local time, a 1979 Nanchang CJ6, registered N443LM, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Windsor, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight collision with a bird while on initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2023 · about 6:24 pm local time
- Place
- Windsor, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang CJ6 A, built 1979 · all CJ6s on the register
- Registration
- N443LM · registry record · serial 3151214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on initial climb, a bird impacted the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer. The leading edge of the stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The airplane was controllable, and the pilot executed an uneventful landing.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Birdstrike during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,467 hours in all; 295 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3.5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 28, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,199.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 4, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,089 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vedeneyev M14P (piston); 91 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FNL Fort Collins CO at 6:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from KFNL, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFNL 251856Z 11010KT 10SM CLR 24/11 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP107 T02390111
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 7, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.