Piper PA-44-180 accident near West Lafayette, Indiana, August 26, 2023
On August 26, 2023 at about 5:42 pm local time, a 2002 Piper PA-44-180, registered N767PA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near West Lafayette, Indiana (Purdue University airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with a bird during initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2023 · about 5:42 pm local time
- Place
- West Lafayette, Indiana · Purdue University · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180, built 2002 · all PA-44-180s on the register
- Registration
- N767PA · registry record · serial 4496114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 818 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 242 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 767 as pilot in command; 515 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 283 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 271 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,442.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 22, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Purdue Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LAF Lafayette IN at 5:42 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from KLAF
Weather report (METAR): KLAF 261754Z 01009KT 10SM OVC018 27/21 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP143 T02670211 10272 20217 58004=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 22, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.