Cessna 182T accident near Manchester, Connecticut, October 7, 2008
On October 7, 2008 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Cessna 182T, registered N771CP, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Manchester, Connecticut (Hartford-Brainard airport). It was a ferry 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
The in-flight collision with a bird.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2008 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Manchester, Connecticut · Hartford-Brainard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182T · all 182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N771CP · registry record · serial 18281781
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight departed Brainard-Hartford Airport and was approximately 5 miles to the northeast at 1,800 feet msl when a large bird was observed on a collision course. The pilot banked left to avoid the bird and continued the climb. As the bird went out of sight, a "loud thump" was heard, and the pilot reported the bird strike to ATC. After returning to the airport, the right wing was inspected and found to have substantial damage. Published airport remarks include the following: "Birds and deer on and in vicinity of the airport."
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 enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 310 hours in all; 170 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 10, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 561 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
The flight
- Departed from: KHFD Hartford CT at 7:20 pm
- Destination: KLWM Hartford CT
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KHFD, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.