Piper PA-44-180 accident near Unadilla, Georgia, September 21, 2021
On September 21, 2021 at about 7:40 pm local time, a 2001 Piper PA-44-180, registered N442HG, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Unadilla, Georgia. It was a personal 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
The airplane's impact by a bird during the enroute portion of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2021 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Unadilla, Georgia · 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 2001 · all PA-44-180s on the register
- Registration
- N442HG · registry record · serial 4496056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while enroute to his destination, about 2,400 ft mean sea level, he maneuvered to avoid a flock of birds; however, a bird contacted the left wing. He declared an emergency and landed the airplane at the nearest suitable airport without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
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: 950 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 214 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 895 as pilot in command; 535 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 13, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 660 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 173 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 609 as pilot in command; 349 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 21, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,298.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2021; 26.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-360-A1H6 (piston); 2,260 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LO-360-A1H6 (piston); 7,220 hours total
- Operator: Georgia Aviation Authority
The flight
- Departed from: TLH Tallahassee FL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: MAC Macon GA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from ACJ, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KACJ 211935Z AUTO 20003KT SCT120 30/22 A3003 RMK AO2 PWINO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 8, 2022. 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 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record Damage Assessment | 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.